Chattooga County drug dealer sentenced to 30 years in prison

A Chattooga County jury found Larry Dale Dooley guilty on August 20 on one count of trafficking in methamphetamine and one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to resell.

Evidence at trial established that the defendant, a five-time convicted felon, was arrested as part of an undercover operation by the Lookout Mountain Judicial District Drug Task Force. Brian Tucker, the task force's deputy chief, led the operation, which began when agents scouted two low-level drug users to serve as informants.

When the addicts-turned-informants called the defendant at the direction of the task force agents, he agreed to sell them an ounce of methamphetamine.

After a thorough search of the informants and their vehicle, Task Force agents followed the informants to the defendant's home. As the informants pulled into the defendant's driveway, he sat in the back seat of their vehicle with a stainless steel cup in his hand. As the informants turned onto State Route 48, Deputy Commander Tucker turned on his emergency lights, causing the defendant to throw a digital scale onto the road. As soon as the informants stopped their vehicle on Ridgecrest Drive, Task Force agents surrounded the vehicle with weapons drawn.

When Agent Chris Wooten opened the rear passenger door, he saw the defendant desperately trying to hide his glass. After police subdued the defendant, who violently resisted arrest, Deputy Commander Tucker searched the back seat of the informants' vehicle and found over 75 grams of methamphetamine concealed in the defendant's glass.

After the verdict was announced, Presiding Judge Kristina Cook Graham sentenced the defendant to 30 years in prison without the possibility of parole.

Officials said, “This indictment is emblematic of the Lookout Mountain District Attorney's commitment to fighting the opioid epidemic by getting drug dealers and traffickers off our streets. The prosecution would like to thank everyone who testified at the trial, including Brian Tucker, Gary Campbell, Caine Railey, Chris Wooten, Mitzi Lands, and Andrew DeJarnete. The prosecution would also like to thank all of the staff who contributed to this important victory, including Amy Reed, Jordan Floyd, Cara Parris, Annabelle Carter, and Eric Sliz.”