TOO YOUNG TO BE LIGHTING THEM UP:
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS ALSO CAUGHT WITH VAPE PEN THAT WERE HIDDEN ON SCHOOL BUS BY MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS
JANUARY 21, 2026 – written by WADE QUEEN
INEZ, Ky. — Two Martin County, Kentucky business owners face charges following a police investigation that authorities say linked the hospitalization of a high school student to the alleged sale of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) vaping products to minors at their store.
The Martin County Schools Police Department (MCSPD) executed a search warrant on Friday, January 16, at Smokin Hott Novelties & More in Inez, KY. Officers said the search happened after they determined that multiple students had purchased THC products from the business.
The store’s owners, Thelma Goforth, 54, and Linda Slone, 52, were charged with unlawful transaction with a minor in the second degree and wanton endangerment in the first degree. Both charges are Class D felonies. Both women were given citations but were not arrested on their dual charges.
The investigation began when a student became ill and went to the hospital Tuesday January 13, after using a THC vape at the high school. In a separate incident, authorities said, elementary school students were caught with a THC vape that had been concealed on a school bus by middle school students.
In both cases, juveniles told investigators they purchased the products from Goforth and Slone at Smokin Hott Novelties & More, the report states.
During the investigation, officers obtained five separate statements from juvenile students. All of the students reportedly said that Goforth and Slone were knowingly selling THC products to minors.
Following the search, both suspects voluntarily provided statements to police. Police said both admitted they had knowingly sold THC products to underage customers.
“They estimated that they had knowingly sold to 50 or more minors,” MCSPD Officer Justin Bellamy said in the police report. “During their interview, they corroborated details of the statements we received from the juveniles involved. They stated that they had become comfortable earning the extra money they were getting from selling to juveniles. Ms. Slone admitted that she would advise juveniles to ‘tell their friends’ about their operations. Ms. Goforth stated that she had told minors, ‘Don’t be telling everybody. I will scratch your back, and you scratch mine.”
The report alleges that the women admitted to occasionally giving juveniles free products to encourage them to return and continue purchasing from the store.
“Ms. Goforth admitted that she had tried an extremely potent ‘Mellow Fellow’ THC vape from her inventory and did not like the dangerous effects of the product,” officer Bellamy reported. “She advised that she would suggest juveniles try a less potent product, but stated that she would still sell the extremely potent THC products to juveniles.”
That same “Mellow Fellow” vape, purchased by a juvenile at Smokin Hott & More and used by another juvenile, resulted in the student’s hospitalization, investigators said.
Thelma Goforth and Linda Slone also described operating a customer loyalty system that rewarded repeat purchases. The store used a punch card system that offered a free product after 10 purchases.
“They advised that they did not I.D. their customers and that they knew minors were using the punch cards as a means of purchasing their products,” the report states.
Both suspects reportedly told investigators that recent events caused them to reconsider selling to minors. They cited concerns that cutting off sales to juveniles could result in retaliation or reports to law enforcement.
“I’m done with doing dirty money,” Linda Slone said.
Thelma Goforth allegedly told investigators that she had a vision for where she wanted her business to be; and she wanted to be “successful.” She also acknowledged becoming comfortable profiting from sales to minors, officials said.
If convicted, both Thelma Goforth and Linda Slone face sentences of one to five years and fines of up to $10,000 on each of the two felony charges.
