Wallace pleads guilty to heroin charges

Published 10:15 am Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Farmville resident Shelby Wallace recently pled guilty to two counts of distribution to accommodate a schedule I/II controlled substance, namely heroin, according to Prince Edward County Commonwealth’s Attorney Megan Clark.

Clark said Wallace was originally charged with four counts of distribution of heroin and one count distribution of a schedule IV substance, but two of the counts of distribution of heroin and one count of the distribution of a schedule IV substance charges were dropped “because of a lack of evidence to prove those charges beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Shelby Wallace

“The two remaining distribution charges of felony distribution of heroin were amended to felony distribution as an accommodation,” Clark said. “Briefly, this means that although Wallace distributed the drugs, there was evidence showing that she did this without an intent to monetarily profit from the distributions.”

Email newsletter signup

Wallace received an active sentence of two years in prison, 10 years of good behavior after being released and active supervised probation for two years. Wallace will also pay restitution to the Piedmont Area Task Force for the cost of the drug transactions involving the use of confidential informants who purchased the heroin with the task force’s money and the cost of the trials.

She will also lose her license for one year, according to Clark.

Wallace, along with Mable D. Patterson, was arrested March 9, 2016 following execution of a search warrant at the Town Motel, located at 1708 W. Third St.

Approximately 21 grams of suspected heroin and 4.9 grams of suspected cocaine, along with marijuana, prescription pills and a firearm, were seized, according to a press release from the Farmville Police Department.

“This was the result of an in-depth investigation into suspected heroin distribution that recently became apparent in the area,” a press release stated. “The search warrants were a result of a combined effort between the Farmville Police Department and the Piedmont Regional Narcotics and Gang Enforcement Task Force.”