BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

PILGRIM — An Inez woman allegedly admitted to swallowing 30 Xanax pills she claimed to have found on a porch before being arrested on burglary-related charges Sept. 17 on Bandmill Road.

April Nicole Howell, also known as April Hickman, 38, is facing charges of receiving stolen property, criminal trespassing and tampering with physical evidence following a report of a burglary in progress at the home of Judy Pauley.

Sheriff Kirk said that when he arrived, he found Howell carrying several bags containing shoes, towels and other items taken from the residence.

“She told three different tales as to how she got these items,” Kirk noted in his report.

Along with the items, Howell allegedly told the sheriff she had discovered 30 Xanax pills on Pauley’s porch and had eaten them.

On the way to jail, Howell allegedly asked the sheriff to roll down the window because she was hot. According to Kirk, she then discarded a wallet she had taken from the Pauley residence by tossing it out of the patrol car.