JANUARY 28, 2026 – written by WADE QUEEN
AVOIDED PRISON TIME BY THE SKIN OF THEIR TEETH: BYRAN TRENTON FRALEY (PHOTO TOP), 43, OF LOWMANSVILLE, KENTUCKY; & THOMAS CHESTER SLONE (PHOTO BOTTOM), 30, OF BLAINE, KENTUCKY; RECEIVED PRISON SENTENCES THAT WERE PROBATED INSTEAD EARLIER THIS MONTH IN TWO SEPARATE JOHNSON COUNTY, KY. COURT.
Two Lawrence County, Kentucky men were sentenced earlier this month in connection with Johnson County, KY. drug cases; but both received leniency as they avoided lengthy prison time, for now anyway.
According to court documents, on Friday January 9, Johnson County Circuit Court Judge John Kevin Holbrook sentenced Bryan Trenton Fraley, 43, of Straight Lane, Lowmansville, KY., to serve a probated sentence of five years on charges including first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (greater than or equal to 2 grams of methamphetamine, first offense).
According to a citation written by Johnson County Sheriff Office deputy Darvin Marsillett, on September 19, 2025, while patrolling in the area of Webb Hollow, he saw a 2003 Ford Explorer which did not have a registration plate.
Deputy Marsillett wrote that he conducted a traffic stop, at which time he saw the driver, identified as Bryan Trenton Fraley attempting to conceal objects inside the vehicle.
The arrest citation said Bryan Fraley and his passengers were removed from the vehicle and a search was conducted.
Deputy Marsillett wrote in the arrest citation that during the search of the vehicle, he found a bag which contained multiple controlled substances, including suspected methamphetamine and marijuana, as well as controlled substances.
The arrest citation said digital scales and a methamphetamine smoking pipe were also found in the vehicle.
In addition to the probated sentence, Judge Kevin Holbrook ordered that Bryan Fraley enroll in an inpatient substance abuse program.
Also on January 9, Johnson County court documents showed that Judge Holbrook sentenced Thomas Chester Slone, 30, of Cains Creek Road, Blaine, KY., to 10 years, probated for five years on charges including enhanced dispensing, prescribing or administering a controlled substance, enhanced trafficking in marijuana (8 ounces to 5 pounds), DUI and first-degree wanton endangerment.
The charges are related to a December 2024 crash at the mouth of Daniels Creek in Johnson County.
Johnson County Sheriff Scott Hazlette said at the time that, when deputies responded, they determined that Thomas Slone was driving under the influence.
Sheriff Hazlette said that Thomas Slone had crossed the yellow line and struck another vehicle, which was carrying the driver and one passenger. Both were transported to Paintsville Appalachian-Regional-Hospital for their injuries.
“During the course of the investigation, they detected an odor of marijuana from his vehicle, which led to the discovery of a substantial amount of marijuana and marijuana paraphernalia,” Sheriff Hazlette said.
Sheriff Hazlette said that, in addition to the drugs, Thomas Slone also had two handguns in his possession.
“He had some mushrooms and about eight individual bags of a variety of marijuana buds weighing about a half pound apiece. He had 82 jars of what they call dab, which is a THC infused cream or a salve that’s got the compound in it, and some THC gummies in individual packs,” according to Sheriff Hazlette. “There were also two handguns in his possession and a vacuum sealed bag of mushrooms that I think weighed a little over a pound. He also had 462 dollars in cash and a set of scales.”
While the sentencings given to both were not ‘get out of jail free’ plea deals, our local legal system has given a final last chance, and has given it is instead that it would be wise that both men take to fully embracing the clemency probations that they now live their lives in criminal and sober life, not just for them, but for the loved ones, and their communities in general.
