Commonwealth Attorney Serves Notice on Those Who Sell Drugs in Johnson County

By Roberta Cantrell
BSN Editor

Two Johnson County men who pled guilty to drug trafficking charges in separate cases received 20-year prison sentences during proceedings Nov. 14 in Johnson Circuit Court.

Jeremy R. Burchett, 49, of Paintsville, was sentenced to 20 years by Judge Kevin Holbrook on multiple felony charges, including trafficking methamphetamine, selling drugs near a Johnson County school, and driving under the influence. 

Holbrook handed down another 20-year sentence to Caleb Tackett, 44, of Paintsville, on two counts of trafficking methamphetamine in a case that arose from sting operations during which Tackett sold methamphetamine to undercover agents, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Justin Rowe said.

All three cases against Burchett arose from sting operations during which Burchett sold methamphetamine to undercover agents, according to 24th Judicial Circuit Commonwealth’s Attorney Matt Runyon.

Burchett’s sentence was enhanced under Kentucky’s persistent felony offender law due to his extensive criminal history, Runyon said.

“Let this 20-year prison sentence serve as notice that, if you’re charged with selling drugs in our community, our office will seek to send you to prison,” Runyon said in a statement. “We will do everything within our ability to make sure folks take responsibility for their criminal actions.”

Runyon acknowledged detectives Bradford Martin and Dustin Thompson of the Kentucky State Police Drug Enforcement / Special Investigations (DESI) division, as well as Officer Justin Jackson of the Paintsville Police Department for their “diligent investigative work, which was instrumental in securing this conviction.”

“Accountability for criminal conduct is alive and well in our circuit,” Rowe said in a statement. “Our office takes these drug trafficking cases seriously, and we will seek serious prison time for folks charged with selling drugs in our community.”

Rowe also gave credit to Martin and Thompson in the investigation in the Tackett case.