WCSD Press Release (Apr 17, 2018) - The Whitley County Sheriff's Department is reporting that on April 2, 2018, Deputy Jonas Saunders received information that a Whitley County resident was using social media to advertise the sale of marijuana. Dep. Saunders was able to determine the location of the residence. He and Dep. Joe Prewitt went to an RD Rains Road residence to investigate, which resulted in obtaining enough evidence to obtain a search warrant for a Crisp Court residence.
In the Crisp Court residence were juveniles, multiple items of drug paraphernalia and marijuana. While searching the residence for other illegal items, deputies Saunders and Prewitt and Jason Strunk located a large safe. They were assisted by Williamsburg Sergeant Brandon White and Officer Cody Jeffries.
The homeowner, Victoria Irwin, 36, of Crisp Court, stated that she did not know the combination of the safe. During the investigation, Victoria Irwin’s son, Frankie L. Irwin, Jr., 20, arrived. Frankie Irwin also stated he did not know the safe’s combination but said it contained a firearm.
Victoria Irwin was arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a minor and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Frankie Irwin was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
Cassandra White, 19, was also arrested and charged with trafficking in marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and endangering the welfare of a minor.
The safe was seized and delivered to the sheriff’s department on a rollback wrecker, where with the authority of a search warrant, it was opened. Inside the safe was over $22,000 in cash and over 900 pills believed to be Xanax.
Dep. Saunders obtained arrest warrants for all three, which were amended to a criminal summonses.
Dep. Saunders then presented evidence to a Whitley County Grand Jury, which resulted in felony indictments of Victoria and Frankie Irwin and White on charges of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, third-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and trafficking in marijuana.
Dep. Saunders is continuing the investigation.
