FRANKFORT, Ky. — A Martin County man who pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and possession has lost an appeal challenging the admissibility of evidence against him.
In October of 2015, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office received a tip that Amos Staton Jr. was selling drugs from his home. In response, deputies set up a checkpoint at the end of the road where Staton lived.
They ultimately found a driver with drugs. That driver told them he purchased them from Staton, and deputies used that statement to get a search warrant for Staton’s home.
Staton challenged the evidence, saying the initial tip was not reliable and the roadblock was unconstitutional, making the evidence against him “fruit of a poisonous tree.” That challenge was rejected, and Staton entered a guilty plea on the condition he be allowed to appeal the ruling.
On Monday, a three-judge appellate panel found even if the checkpoint was unconstitutional, Staton had no standing to challenge it. That means the conviction and five-year sentence will be allowed to stand.