Jury rules "Not guilty"

A superior court jury Dec. 18 returned a verdict of not guilty after a one-day trial of drug charges against Kaylee McBride, 26, Tekoa. McBride had been charged with possession of methamphetamine at a residence in Tekoa.

According to the case report, deputies found a pipe and a glass piece with drug residue Feb. 19 during a search of a residence on S. Water Street in Tekoa. The drug evidence was found in a room which had reportedly been occupied by McBride.

The case report said McBride was not present at the Tekoa residence when it was searched, and deputies, who had obtained a warrant, had to make forced entry into the house. It said McBride, who was in Cheney, was notified of the drug discovery by telephone, and McBride denied any connection to the alleged evidence.

Defense Attorney Steve Martonick presented a case which contended discovery of drug evidence in a room at Tekoa fell short of proving McBride was in possession of the evidence.