PV woman faces drug charges

By Barry Porterfield
Staff Writer

June 18, 2008 07:22 pm

— A whole flurry of mostly drug-related charges against a Pauls Valley woman followed a home visit by authorities checking out a report on her young child.
In the aftermath a total of five criminal counts from two completely separate incidents have been filed against Laura Melinda Gilbert, 41.
The formal charges came after Garvin County deputies went to Gilbert’s residence on North Sycamore Avenue to look into the report of her child being left alone at home on a regular basis.
Authorities were also told the 6-year-old child was going to neighbors’ homes in search of food and a place to stay.
One last tidbit of information alleged that methamphetamine might be found inside Gilbert’s home.
All of that led to deputies paying the local residence a visit late last week.
There they learned from Gilbert her child, who was at a neighbor’s house at that moment, was already in state custody and placed with another family member.
A filed affidavit shows Gilbert refused to allow a search of the residence but conceded only to the deputies’ need to check on food and clothing for the child.
The limited search began after an official with the state Department of Human Services arrived at the scene.
Deputies reported seeing in plain view a stem from a marijuana plant and rolling papers typically used to smoke the drug.
According to the officer, Gilbert said she would surrender her marijuana in exchange for no trip to jail. She was immediately placed under arrest.
Gilbert next is reported to have retrieved a clear plastic bag containing marijuana and some Xanax pills. She also voluntarily admitted to having meth and syringes in a kitchen cabinet, reports show.
A short time later deputies were approved for a search warrant as they proved Gilbert right by finding the meth and drug paraphernalia in the cabinet.
The searching deputies concluded the illegal items seized were found in every room in the house except for the child’s room and the bathroom.
Gilbert was given two drug-related counts in Garvin County District Court.
She was also handed three more, including child endangerment, for an incident involving the same child dating back to March 2007.
At that time she’s accused of being under the influence of drugs and passing out while at the wheel of a car parked at a drive-in restaurant. At the same time the child, then 5 years old, was reportedly alone in the back seat with the vehicle’s back door partially open.
During an appearance in court her bond was set at $15,000 in each case.