Lincoln County Couple Accused Of Taking Child On Drug Deals

VALE, N.C. — Investigators say a couple from Lincoln County took a child with them on drug deals.

Detectives say Betsy Carpenter and James Fredell sold pain pills to undercover agents multiple times while a two-year-old child was present.

According to narcotic detectives, during one of the undercover buys, the couple sold a large amount of opiate-based pills while their two year old son sat next to the undercover detective and the mother counted out the pills. Detectives say the father of the two year old was also involved as he left the residence and returned back with the pills, handing them to the mother to sell.

“This couple did not blink an eye when selling us the pills, all the while with their young child present. These trafficking charges are the some of the most severe state-level drug charges someone can receive,” says Narcotics Lt. Jon Propst.

Narcotics detectives say the residence was unfit to live in and there were roaches everywhere during the buys. Detectives also said the outside of the residence was in horrible shape.

Detectives contacted the Lincoln County Department of Social Services Child Protective Services and reported the matter. DSS workers responded during the arrests and placed the children with another couple to watch temporarily.

“After seeing the living condition of the home and understanding the dangers associated with drug activity, especially drug sales, we decided to act much quicker than normal. At that point the child’s safety became priority over continuing a drug investigation,” says Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Lt. Jon Propst.

Betsy May Carpenter, 32 of 6373 Dixie Lane, Vale, NC was charged with two felony counts each of Trafficking Opiates by Sell, Trafficking Opiates by Deliver, Trafficking Opiates by Possession, Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Schedule II Controlled Substance, Conspire to Traffic Opiates, and Maintaining a Dwelling for Controlled Substances. She was also charged with one misdemeanor count of Child Abuse. She received a $100,000 secured bond.

James Steven Fredell, 38 of 6373 Dixie Lane, Vale, NC was charged with one felony count each of Trafficking Opiates by Sell, Trafficking Opiates by Deliver, Trafficking Opiates by Possession, Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver a Schedule II Controlled Substance, and Conspire to Traffic Opiates. He was also charged with one misdemeanor count of Child Abuse. He received an $85,000 secured bond.

Both are scheduled for a first appearance in Lincoln County District Court on Wednesday, September 14, 2016.