Deborah Michelle Markle,Larry Dilland Ledford

Deborah Michelle Markle, 36 of Boaz, and Larry Dilland Ledford, 55 of Rainsville, to 18 months in prison, according to Deputy DA Scott Lloyd, who prosecuted the unrelated cases.
Markle and Ledford were each given combined 10-year sentences with probation included. In addition, Cole ordered each to pay $50,000.
“I would have liked to have seen longer sentences in both cases,” Lloyd said. “But I do think that this still sends an unmistakable message.”
Markle was arrested after a raid in the Kilpatrick community on Dec. 14, 2006. Markle was in possession of about 41 grams of meth and admitted she had been selling the drug, O’Dell said. Officers also seized more than $9,000 and a loaded handgun.
Ledford’s conviction resulted from a Sept. 27, 2006 raid at his home in Rainsville. Lloyd said Ledford was in possession of about 113 grams of meth and also admitted he had been selling the drug. Officers found more than $2,000 and 21 firearms.
DeKalb County Drug Task Force Commander Darrell Collins said any amount of meth taken off the street was a good thing.
“We’re seeing increasing numbers of people who are selling the drug as a way to finance their own habit,” Collins said.
Lloyd said both defendants had previously entered “blind pleas,” meaning that they appeared in front of the judge and admitted their guilt.