A Tri-Cities paraeducator skipped court to face a drug charge. Now she’s wanted
A 43-year-old Prosser educator is wanted by police after she failed to show up for her court hearing this week.
Judge David Petersen issued a $300,000 arrest warrant for Amy M. Buxton after she failed to appear for her arraignment in Benton County Superior Court.
The paraeducator, who worked at Keene-Riverview Elementary School in Prosser, was expected to enter a plea on Wednesday to possession of methamphetamine with the intent to deliver it.
Benton County sheriff’s detectives arrested the woman after finding more than 2,000 fentanyl pills and more than half a pound of meth in her home during a March 6 search, according to court documents.
They said they discovered the drugs while investigating a stolen car at the home.
She was arrested March 11 and the next day her bail was set at $10,000 during a short hearing.
Buxton was released March 13 after posting a bond, according to court records.
The paraeducator has been on paid administrative leave from the Prosser School District pending the police investigation.
Search and drugs
Benton County sheriff’s deputies were at a West Johnson Road property after finding a stolen car parked there. They began watching the car to find out who returned to it, according to court documents.
As they watched it, they talked to a man who said he stayed at the Johnson Road home from time to time. Deputies also spotted Buxton driving to and from the home.
Deputies reported that Buxton had lived at the home for years based on talking with her before this investigation.
Public records do not show she had any previous arrests outside of one traffic violation.
Investigators believed several of the items taken from the car would be inside of the home, including a gun, so they received a search warrant and went inside.
As they went into the home, they allegedly discovered “large quantities” of drugs sitting in plain view, according to court documents. This allegedly included a large metal pan in the kitchen with what appeared to be meth.
After getting an amended search warrant, deputies reported finding more than 2,000 fentanyl pills, more than half a pound of meth and four scales. Some of the meth had already been divided up to sell.
Inside the master bedroom, police found a large bag in a dresser with a substantial number of fentanyl pills, small baggies of meth and other drug paraphernalia. The dresser they found the bag in also contained what investigators believed was Buxton’s clothing.
In another part of the house, police found syringes with small amounts of heroin and several small jars containing methamphetamine.
