Taney County Prosecuting Attorney, Jeffrey M. Merrell announced today that Janelle Hartness, dob: 08/19/1964 of Ozark, Missouri was sentenced last Friday by Taney County Circuit Judge Mark Orr to twelve (12) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for the class A felony of trafficking in the second degree, and twelve (12) years on each of two counts of distribution of a controlled substance and as a prior and persistent felony offender. Probation was denied and all sentences are to run concurrent.
On October 14, 2005 officers from the COMET drug task force, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Soutease MIssouri Drug Task Force, and the Drug Enforcement Administration executed a search warrant at the residence of JANELLE HARTNESS in Ridgedale, Missouri. Officers had received information from a confidential source that JANELLE HARTNESS had been dealing methamphetamine from her residence over the past five years, and the confidential source further state that on one occasion he/she had observed a pound of methamphetamine inside the Ridgedale residence. During the execution of the search warrant officers located multiple items used in the trafficking of narcotics along with 248.3 grams of methamphetamine that was discovered in a shed in the back yard of the residence.  In connection with this offense JANELLE HARTNESS was charged with the A felony of trafficking in the second degree.
On December 14, 2006 undercover officers withe COMET drug task force purchased an eightball of methamphetamine for $275.00 from JANELLE HARTNESS through a confidential informant in the parking lot of Blockbuster of Hollister, Missouri. In connection with this offense JANELLE HARTNESS was charged with the felony of distribution of a controlled substance as a prior and persistent felony offender.
On February 14, 2007 undercover officers with the COMET drug task force again purchased an eight-ball of methamphetamine for $250.00 from JANELLE HARTNESS through a confidential informant at the Fast Trip Car Wash in Hollister, Missouri. In connection with this offense JANELLE HARTNESS was charged with the felony of distribution of a controlled substance as a prior and persistent felony offender.