Meigs man sentenced after Ochlocknee dog brings home meth
Sep. 16—VALDOSTA, Ga. — A Thomas County man was recently sentenced in connection with a case that began when a pet brought home a satchel filled with illegal drugs.
Timothy Bernard Reese, 44, of Meigs, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 75 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Hugh Lawson. Reese pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on April 22. There is no parole in the federal system.
"The unusual facts in this case do not diminish the serious consequences repeat offenders face when caught trafficking methamphetamine in the Middle District of Georgia," said Acting U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. "Our office, working alongside our law enforcement partners, will work to bring to justice those who repeatedly break the law and endanger citizens by their criminal actions."
According to facts admitted by Reese in open court, a resident of Ochlocknee (Thomas County), Georgia, called authorities on Dec. 13, 2019, regarding a suspicious brown satchel found by his dog. The dog's owner reported that his dog had come home that day carrying the bag. When the owner opened the bag to check for identification, he found what appeared to be large quantities of illegal narcotics and immediately called the Thomas County Sheriff's Office.
The contents tested positive for 154.78 grams of methamphetamine, according to a release from the US Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Georgia.
Lottery tickets were also found inside of the bag, the release said. Thomas County-Thomasville Narcotics/Vice agents were able to pinpoint the exact location and time that the lottery tickets had been purchased. Pulling surveillance video from the Susie Q's Foods in Meigs, officers observed Reese purchasing the lottery tickets.
On Dec. 16, 2019, the police obtained an arrest warrant for Reese. The next day, a woman filed a report with the Cairo Police Department alleging that on Dec. 13, 2019, Reese came into her room at the Grady Lodge and punched her in the face, fracturing her eye socket, and demanded to know where his methamphetamine was located.
Reese was taken into custody on Dec. 19, 2019. The US Attorney's Office said he subsequently admitted that the brown bag belonged to him and that he planned to distribute the methamphetamine.
Reese has prior felony convictions for burglary and possession of firearm by a convicted felon, both in the Superior Court of Tift County.
The case was investigated by the Thomas County-Thomasville Narcotics & Vice Unit.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sonja Profit prosecuted the case.
