East Texas

By KENNETH DEAN
Staff Writer

GILMER - Her arrest and subsequent termination has the Upshur County Juvenile Probation Services "trying to cope with and understand" the felony drug charges against a former co-worker - a woman who oversaw juvenile offenders.

Milton Wylie, the chief probation officer, said Jessica Hill, a certified probation officer, was fired hours after his office learned of her arrest late last month.

The Tyler Morning Telegraph learned Hill was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of a dangerous drug and possession of marijuana after an informant told Big Sandy police officers he had bought drugs at the home occupied by the woman and her then-boyfriend.

Records in the case were obtained by the newspaper Friday afternoon and detail how the arrest of the informant uncovered the drug operation.

In the affidavit for the search warrant the Big Sandy officer stated he believed that methamphetamines, cocaine, marijuana and pills were being sold out of the home in the 300 block of West Groves in Big Sandy.

The informant, who was arrested for public intoxication while holding a pair of scissors in his hand at a Big Sandy convenience store, told officers he bought the meth, found in his sock, at the home where Hill and her boyfriend lived.

A list of items found in the home at the time of the search on Dec. 31 include; scales, marijuana, baggies with crystal residue, and white powder, various pills, a 9 mm handgun, cigarette rolling machines and Hill's badge.

Wylie said in a phone interview that he and the entire office was still in shock over the charges and that the only way to maintain the department's integrity was to end Hill's employment after she was arrested.

"She is only charged and has not been found guilty, but we acted in a manner to keep the integrity of this office intact and for the protection of the juveniles who come through here," he said.

Wylie went on to say that Hill's arrest was "way out of the norm" in his office.

"We have a relatively low turnover and she had been here on the job for two years so we all get to know each other and this was very disturbing to all of us," he said.

Wylie added Hill had a caseload of 15 juveniles on probation for various reasons when she was terminated.

He also said that before her arrest Hill had been disciplined for office-related problems.

"We had been dealing with her for her work performance and absenteeism, but we had no ideas of any of this other stuff," he said.

Hill was released the day of her arrest on bonds totaling $9,000.

Big Sandy police said Friday they are not looking for anyone else in the case.