On March 21, 2025, pursuant to a search warrant, The Calhoun County Sheriff’s office conducted a search of residence belonging to Paul H. Hunter and Britney Dawn Shelley. Upon approaching the residence, Deputy CW Stephens could hear footsteps hastily moving from the front of the residence toward the rear. After opening the door he observed Paul Hunter approaching the door from the rear of the residence.
While Sheriff Knight was securing Mr. Hunter, Deputy Stephens observed Shelley emerge from the bathroom of the residence. During the search officers located a green set of scales with a standard weight in the kitchen trash can. In the living room on/in an end table, officers located a marijuana pipe, and several bags wrapped in cellophane wrap both of which are commonly used to package controlled substances. Within the bathroom a wooden tray was found in the cabinet on top of stacked towels. On the wooden tray was a large empty jar that once opened had a strong smell of marijuana, a green grinder containing a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana, and a packaged white crystal substance (meth) packaged in a plastic bag corner weighing 8.01 grams.
Based on Deputy Stephens training and experience, this amount of meth being more than the typical amount for
personal use (more than double the amount of an 8 ball) and being coupled with the bags and scales (which seem to have
been hastily hidden prior to the officers entrance) located within the residence shows that both residents had knowledge of and possessed the methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
During the sorting of the evidence, Shelley stated that the meth was hers and that she had an addiction. Hunter stated that when we approached the residence he went to the back to get Shelley and tell her to come on and then she went into the bathroom. This further illustrates that both occupants of the residence had knowledge of the substance within the residence and conspired with each other.
Deputy Stephens requested and was granted warrants on both Paul Hunter (25M07F00008) and Brittany Shelley (25M07F000007 or Count (1) possession of meth with intent to distribute and count (2) conspiracy.
Both defendants are being housed in the WV Central Regional Jail having been arraigned and are currently awaiting trial with each bond set at $3,000.
