PARIS — Police said a Bethel woman faces multiple felony drug charges for trafficking heroin while in the presence of her infant daughter. 

Morgan McKinney, 19, appeared in Oxford County Superior Court on Monday afternoon on charges of aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs, conspiracy, hindering apprehension and endangering the welfare of a child. 

According to an affidavit by Maine Drug Enforcement Agent Tony Milligan, for over a year McKinney purchased heroin from a dealer in southern Maine. She and her boyfriend, Brandon Blood, resold it in Oxford County, using the proceeds to pay for new supplies. Milligan said McKinney was addicted to heroin and seeking Suboxone, a prescription drug used to medicate withdrawal.

In February, agents from the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency raided apartments the couple shared in Woodstock and Bethel after Blood allegedly sold heroin to a police informant. Agents seized over 10 grams of heroin, digital scales and other evidence, Milligan said. 

The Bethel apartment is within 1,000 feet of Crescent Park Elementary School in Bethel, raising the severity of the offense to aggravated.

Blood was arrested around the time of the raid and charged with three counts of unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs and aggravated trafficking. At the time, police were told by McKinney that she was “minimally involved,” and they focused the investigation on Blood, Milligan said. She was not arrested at the time. 

Later, after setting up a sting operation to intercept their drug dealer, Milligan said McKinney tipped off the other party, spoiling the ruse.

According to the affidavit, the couple sent over $50,000 via money-wiring services to two Saco residents between January 2014 and February 2015. One, Del Hathaway, was arrested on the Maine Turnpike in York on April 17 on a charge of importing a large quantity of heroin from Lynn, Mass., Milligan said.

While most of the money was sent by Blood, Milligan said McKinney accompanied him to wire the funds and made at least one solo transfer.

According to Milligan, Hathaway told police in an interview after his arrest that McKinney told him not to come to the heroin transaction because police would be there to arrest him, that she occasionally made trips by herself to restock, and on some occasions the couple brought their two-year-old daughter with them and consumed heroin in her presence. 

“…McKinney and Blood routinely consumed heroin in front of her infant child without a sober caretaker to watch over the child, seriously endangering the child’s life and welfare,” Milligan said. 

McKinney was released from jail on a Maine Pretrial Services contract, which supervises the release of defendants while their court case is pending. She is prohibited from having contact with her daughter or Blood.

Blood is scheduled to make a court appearance in May, and McKinney in July.

ccrosby@sunmediagroup.net 

Copy the Story Link