Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – Nov. 22, 2024 – Multiple people were given bonds exceeding $100,000 after being charged with possession of drugs, guns and stealing collectible coins.

The Street Crimes Unit received a call on Nov. 19 about three suspicious people who were attempting to sell a gold coin that was suspected stolen. Officers made contact with 29-year-old James Shaver, 30-year-old Jerome Phillips and 41-year-old Helen Newsome. Shaver was on active probation while Phillips and Newsome were on active parole.

Officers questioned the three about the coin, to which they reportedly provided different answers. Officers conducted a probation search on Shaver, in which they found a bag with 17 Clonazepam pills in his groin area.

Investigators also searched his phone, where they found messages detailing plans to allegedly steal several coins and a gun from a residence on Amberwood Cove. They also found photos of a revolver Shaver was attempting to sell, and messages indicating he planned to sell the Clonazepam pills.

After officers searched Shaver’s vehicle, they found the revolver, several collectible coins and a credit card reported stolen.

During his interview with police, Shaver told officers he took Newsome and Phillips to the home on Amberwood Cove and stole the gun and coins, as well as attempted to sell the gun.

Officers also conducted a parole search of Newsome, in which they found two digital scales and several collectible coins in her jacket pocket. They also searched her phone, in which they found messages of her attempting to sell the revolver recovered from Shaver’s car, as well as sell meth.

She was taken to the Craighead County Detention Center, where jail staff found a bag with four grams of meth in her vagina. During her interview with police, Newsome confessed to going to the home on Amberwood Cove and stealing the coins, trying to sell the revolver and that she intended to sell the meth found on her.

Officers also conducted a parole search on Phillips, where they found a THC vape pen and several collectible coins. They also found a bag with 0.3 grams of suspected meth in his sock and a stack of credit and debit cards that did not have his name on them in his pocket. One of the cards was reported stolen. Phillips reportedly denied knowing where the stolen card or coins in his pockets came from.

On Nov. 20, after being booked into the Craighead County Detention Center, jail staff caught Shaver passing out more Clonazepam pills to inmates. In another interview, Shaver confessed to sneaking the pills into the jail under his testicles and passing them out.

Newsome was charged with the following:

  • Possession of meth or cocaine with purpose to deliver
  • Use of a communication device
  • Possession of drug paraphernalia
  • Tampering with physical evidence
  • Theft of $5,000 or less but greater than $1,000 from a building
  • Possession of a Schedule IV or V drug less than 28 grams

Phillips was charged with the following:

  • Possession of meth or cocaine
  • Theft of $5,000 or less but greater than $1,000 from a building
  • Theft by receiving- credit/debit cards or account number
  • Possession of a Schedule VI drug less than four ounces

Shaver was charged with the following:

  • Simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms
  • Possession of firearms by certain persons
  • Furnishing, possessing or using prohibited articles
  • Use of a communication device
  • Possession of Schedule VI or V drugs with purpose to deliver
  • Theft of a firearm valued less than $2,500
  • Theft of $5,000 or less but greater than $1,000 from a building
  • Tampering with physical evidence
  • Theft by receiving- credit/debit cards or account number

Newsome was given a $150,000 cash or surety bond, Phillips was given a $175,000 cash or surety bond, and Shaver was given a $350,000 cash or surety bond. Conditions of all bonds are a no-contact order with the victim.

All three have a court date of Dec. 16 at 8:30 a.m.