By By ROBERT BLANKENSHIP
Advance Managing Editor
An Atmore couple arrested in April for allegedly producing and distributing crystal methamphetamines entered pleas of "not guilty" Thursday through written documents sent to the court.
Gary Charles Gibson, a 32-year-old white male, and his wife, Selina Lynn Rolin Gibson, a 30-year-old white female, were each arrested and charged with possession and distribution of drugs following a search of their residence at 206 Marshall Avenue. Both suspects were charged with unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
The Gibsons were represented by Bob Presto.
Circuit Clerk Ken Taylor said many defendents are now entering written pleas as a way to save them and their attorneys from going through the formal arraignment process.
A trial date has not been set, but Taylor said it could be several months away.
The Gibsons were arrested on Monday, April 16, after agents with the 21st Judicial Drug Task Force, along with Escambia County deputies and officers with the Atmore Police Department, executed the search warrant at the residence.
Officials with the task force said at the time of the arrest that they discovered a crystal methamphetamine lab and recovered 5.5 grams of crystal meth along with the chemicals used to manufacture the drug at the home.
The search and arrests came as a result of an on-going investigation that began about one year prior to the arrests. The task force was investigating the case along with the Drug Enforcement Agency.