The Webster County Sheriff’s Department filed felony drug and child abuse charges late last week during the execution of a search warrant in Eupora.
Sgt. Brandon Chaille, narcotics officer with the Sheriff’s Office, said the warrant was served Friday night at a residence on West Fox Avenue. The investigation led to these charges being filed against three people in the house:
• Tamarus Cunningham, 45: two counts of felony possession of a controlled substance.
• Derail Cunningham, 29: two counts of trafficking a controlled substance, two counts of felony possession of a controlled substance and three counts of child abuse. He was identified as the nephew of Tamarus Cunningham.
• Alesia Keys, 21: child abuse (endangerment).
Chaille said three children ages 2 and under were in the house, and that Keys is their mother. The child abuse charges were filed because of the state of the house along with the sale and use of drugs there with children present, according to the deputy. He said the Mississippi Department of Child Protective Services was contacted and has opened a separate investigation.
The Cunninghams remained in the county jail as of Monday in lieu of $150,000 bonds. Keys was released Saturday afternoon on a $50,000 bond.
Chaille thanked the Eupora Police Department and CPS for their assistance in the investigation.
In an unrelated case, the Sheriff’s Office also served another search warrant last week at Early Grove Apartments, Highway 9 North. The search warrant was served Thursday at the apartment of Michael Anthony Pass.
The resulting investigation resulted in Pass, 55, being charged with felony possession of meth, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana. Pass posted bond but was transferred to Choctaw County, where Chaille said he had a warrant on a grand larceny charge.
Additionally, Chaille said the Webster County K-9 unit made three traffic stops that resulted in drug arrests between July 11 and Friday.
