Mount Morris Woman Faces Drug Charges After Traffic Stop in Avon
A Mount Morris woman was arrested on multiple drug-related charges following a traffic stop in the Town of Avon, according to the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office.
The arrest occurred on March 7 when Deputy Matt Vancuran, assigned to the Sheriff’s Office Highway Patrol Unit, stopped a vehicle on West Henrietta Road. The deputy identified the driver as 36-year-old Alisha Ballard and determined that she was operating the vehicle with a suspended license.
During the stop, the deputy suspected drug activity and conducted an investigation, which led to the discovery of several hundred empty baggies, scales, and other drug-related paraphernalia inside the vehicle. Ballard was taken into custody and transported to the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office for further processing.
Authorities later determined that Ballard had concealed drugs on her person before or during the roadside investigation. Deputies reportedly recovered both cocaine and methamphetamine.
Ballard faces multiple charges, including felony criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third, fourth, and fifth degrees, as well as criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree. Additional charges include two counts of criminally using drug paraphernalia, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and other traffic violations.
Following her arrest, Ballard was processed at the Livingston County Jail and arraigned at the Livingston County Centralized Arraignment Part (CAP) court before Town of West Sparta Justice Mahany. Since the charges did not qualify for bail under New York’s Bail Reform Act, the judge released her on her own recognizance with the condition that she report to Livingston County Probation for pretrial supervision.
The Livingston County Public Defender’s Office represented Ballard at her arraignment, while the Livingston County District Attorney’s Office represented the prosecution.