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Jarvis Deshaun Shakespeare, 30, of Red Level, recently pled guilty to two counts of distribution of a controlled substance and to attempting to elude this week.  Circuit Judge Lex Short took the guilty pleas and Shakespeare was sentenced to 20 years for each of the distribution charges and one year on the misdemeanor attempting to elude.

District Attorney Walt Merrell said Shakespeare was a repeat offender who has faced drug-related charges in the past.

“Shakespeare has been prosecuted by our office multiple times for various drug and other charges,” Merrell said. “Perhaps this sentence gives him plenty of time in prison to contemplate whether his involvement in the drug trade should continue after his release.  I have long preached that the biggest problem with drug dealers is all the people left in the wake of their conduct — the addict, the addict’s family, the community, and so on and so forth.”

Shakespeare was arrested in January after narcotics agents with the Covington County Sheriff’s Office used a confidential informant to twice buy synthetic marijuana from Shakespeare in December 2024.  Narcotics Investigator Cody Holmes worked the cases and, through an informant, was able to capture text messages from Shakespeare offering to sell the synthetic. A controlled sale and purchase was set up, and Shakespeare came to the arranged location to deliver the narcotics.

The state was represented by Assistant District Attorney Nikki Stephens. Stephens complimented Holmes on his investigation and taking another drug dealer off the street. 

“Cody is a truly dedicated narcotics officer and does excellent work in passionately pursuing drug dealers, as the starting point must be the source, not the end user. I’m thankful for his work,” Stephens said.

Merrell commended Stephens, Holmes, and the other officers involved. 

“Though often times it feels like for every dealer that we take off the street, there are two more to take his place, our office will continue to relentlessly prosecute the men and women who choose to make a career out of selling drugs.  One life lost to drugs is one too many and so we will do whatever we can to prevent that from happening,” Merrell said.