FOUR OF ONE KIND:
LAWRENCE COUNTY, MAN AMONG WITH GROUP OF FOUR ARRESTED IN DRUG BUST IN MAGOFFIN COUNTY, KY., AFTER TRAFFIC STOP LEADS TO CHARGES FOR METH AND FENTANYL TRAFFICKING
MARTIN COUNTY FEMALE DUO, ALONG MAGOFFIN COUNTY MAN WHO WAS THE DRIVER, WHO WAS WANTED VIA COURT BENCH WARRANT.
SEPTEMBER 28, 2026 – written by WADE QUEEN
(PHOTOS LEFT TO RIGHT): STEVEN DARRELL VANHOOSE, 37 OF LOWMANSVILLE, KENTUCKY; HOWARD TIMOTHY LEMASTER, 53, OF SALYERSVILLE, KY., SHEANA KAY CRUM, 32, & ASHLEY RENAE SALMONS, 35, BOTH OF TOMAHAWK, KY., WERE ALL ARRESTED TOGETHER EARLY FRIDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 25, IN MAGOFFIN COUNTY, KY., AFTER A TRAFFIC STOP BY DEPUTIES LED TO DISCOVERY DRUG BUST INVOLVING A LARGE AMOUNT OF METH & FENTANYL. (PHOTOS BELOW).
What began with a Magoffin County deputy sheriff pulling over a vehicle for a traffic violation ended with four people being taken to jail for meth and fentanyl trafficking.
According to the arrest citation report, on early Friday morning September 25, Magoffin County Sheriff Office deputy Neil Watson was observing traffic on Route 2020 when he saw the vehicle pass by and veer onto the far left side of the road when taking a curve. After pulling over the vehicle, he realized that the driver, Howard Timothy Lemaster, 53, of Salyersville, Kwentucky; was wanted on warrants, so he detained him.
The deputy also saw a rear seat passenger, Steven Darrell Vanhoose, 37, of Lowmansville, KY., was moving around and hiding his hands, so he asked to speak with him. Steven Vanhoose said he had been trying to put a pack of syringes away. But when the deputy asked Vanhoose to step out, an uncapped syringe, several plastic bags and a black zipper pouch fell to the ground, so he detained him as well. Deputy Neil Watson then requested assistance from deputy William Tyler Lafferty to the traffic stop scene.
The deputies then began searching the vehicle and found multiple bags of meth and fentanyl. After that discovery, Sheana Kay Crum, 32, and Ashley Renae Salmons, 35, both of Tomahawk, KY., were also arrested.
All four have now been charged with with the following offenses:
Steven Vanhoose was charged with: • TRAFFICKING IN CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, 1ST DEGREE, 1ST OFFENSE – (< 2 GRAMS METHAMPHETAMINE); • DRUG PARAPHERNALIA – BUY/POSSESS; • ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF A MINOR; • TAMPERING WITH PHYSICAL EVIDENCE; • TRAFFICKING IN CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, 1ST OFFENSE FENTANYL; • POSSESSION OF FIREARM BY CONVICTED FELON.
Sheana Crum was charged with: • TRAFFICKING IN CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, 1ST DEGREE, 1ST OFFENSE – (< 2 GRAMS METHAMPHETAMINE); • DRUG PARAPHERNALIA – BUY/POSSESS; • ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF A MINOR; • TAMPERING WITH PHYSICAL EVIDENCE; • TRAFFICKING IN CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, 1ST OFFENSE FENTANYL; • POSSESSION OF FIREARM BY CONVICTED FELON.
Ashley Salmons was charged with: • TRAFFICKING IN CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, 1ST DEGREE, 1ST OFFENSE – (< 2 GRAMS METHAMPHETAMINE); • DRUG PARAPHERNALIA – BUY/POSSESS; • ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF A MINOR; • TAMPERING WITH PHYSICAL EVIDENCE; • TRAFFICKING IN CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, 1ST OFFENSE FENTANYL; • POSSESSION OF FIREARM BY CONVICTED FELON; • CONTEMPT OF COURT LIBEL/SLANDER RESISTANCE TO ORDER.
Howard Lemaster was charged with: • TRAFFICKING IN CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, 1ST DEGREE, 1ST OFFENSE – (< 2 GRAMS METHAMPHETAMINE); • DRUG PARAPHERNALIA – BUY/POSSESS; • ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF A MINOR; • TAMPERING WITH PHYSICAL EVIDENCE; • TRAFFICKING IN CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, 1ST OFFENSE FENTANYL; • POSSESSION OF FIREARM BY CONVICTED FELON; TAMPERING WITH PHYSICAL EVIDENCE (3 SEPARATE CHAGRES COUNTS); • FAILURE TO APPEAR, • BAIL JUMPING, FIRST DEGREE; • CONTEMPT OF COURT LIBEL/SLANDER RESISTANCE TO ORDER ((TWO SEPARATE CHARGES COUNTS).
The charge of endangering the welfare of a minor was due to there being an 18-month-old child in the car with them, who was sitting next to an uncapped syringe with a needle attached to the syringe. The Department of Social Services was immediately notified, and the child was transported to the emergency room for evaluation.
All four suspects were transported to, booked & lodged, and are currently being held in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center in Paintsville in Johnson County, as of Monday evening of September 28.
