Marijuana Dealing Grandmother Arrested

LIVINGSTON, January 16, 2008 – According to Lieutenant Andy Lowrie of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division, at approximately 6 pm on January 11, 2008 local law enforcement responded to 380 Anna Drive in the Wiggins Village subdivision to investigate tips provided in reference to the sale of marijuana from the residence to teenagers and young adults.   After conducting an undercover purchase of marijuana from the residence, narcotics detectives, CID detectives, patrol division and Polk County Constable Pct. 2 Bill Cunningham responded to the residence.  Upon arrival at the residence Matthew Walter, 20, from Polk County was found in possession of marijuana and was arrested.  The owner of the residence was identified as Karla Sanford Carter 42, also from Polk County. Carter’s daughter, Shannon Rae Sanford, 18, advised detectives that her mother had marijuana in the residence and that her mother sold marijuana.  Carter admitted to having marijuana in the residence and gave detectives consent to search her residence and advised detectives on the location of the marijuana.

According to Lowrie, detectives observed that during the under cover delivery of marijuana from the residence, that two small children were present, and that once inside the residence, detectives observed that the residence was not fit for children and Child Protective Services was notified. 

During the search of the residence detectives located a large quantity of marijuana (just over 3 quarters of a pound) along with other evidence which shows that the residence had allegedly been in operation for a while. Karla Carter was charged with felony delivery of marijuana, felony possession of marijuana, and two counts of child endangerment.  Shannon Sanford, who is currently on probation for possession of a controlled substance, advised that she could not live at her mother’s residence because she was on probation and she was tired of her mother dealing marijuana and all of the traffic in and out of the residence.  Shannon Sanford was charged with one count of felony child endangerment for allowing her 1 year old baby to remain in a house that she claims herself was unsafe for her child.

James Forbus	Carla Carter
Matthew Walter	Shannon Sanford

James Daniel Forbus, 20, from Polk County was charged with felony delivery of marijuana and felony child endangerment.  According to Lowrie all the subjects in the residence admitted that the house was not fit for the two children, though they all allowed the children to remain in the residence.  CPS responded to the scene and removed the children from the residence that night for placement into a safer environment.  At this time the Sheriff’s office is looking into seizing the residence and the property therein.

Lieutenant Andy Lowrie adds that while searching the residence several subjects in the same neighborhood placed several phone calls to the residence which was answered by law enforcement. According to Lowrie, the phone calls were to warn the subjects at the residence of law enforcement presence in the neighborhood.

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