Stolen items seized during meth bust

By Carey Phillips

William Rex Bryson, 46, of North Norton Road, Cashiers, was being held Tuesday in the Jackson County Jail under a $29,000 bond, according to Sheriff Jimmy Ashe.

Bryson is charged with four counts of possession of stolen goods, and one count each of possession of Schedule II (crystal methamphetamine) with intent to sell/deliver, possession of a stolen firearm, possession with intent to sell/deliver marijuana, maintaining a dwelling for distribution of a controlled substance, possession of crystal methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The search warrant was executed Feb. 12 as part of a cooperative effort involving law enforcement from Jackson, Transylvania, Macon and Haywood counties, in addition to the State Bureau of Investigation, the sheriff said.

Officers recovered between $30,000 and $40,000 worth of stolen items, Ashe said, including four-wheelers, motorcycles, firearms and tools. Due to the volume of items, a large U-Haul truck was used to remove them, according to Ashe.

Investigators believe Bryson was receiving stolen good in exchange for illegal controlled substances, the sheriff said.

Ashe said some of the recovered items had been stolen from each county involved in the investigation. He said officers are reviewing case files from breaking and enterings as they attempt to connect the recovered items to previous crimes.

The joint investigation was part of an effort to crack down on crimes related to illegal drugs, Ashe said.

Back to Archive: 02/20/03.