BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

LOUISA — A Martin County woman was sentenced to five years in prison June 25 in Lawrence Circuit Court in a drug case that began with a 2025 traffic stop.

Sherry Horn, 48, of Lovely, was indicted in July 2025 following a Kentucky State Police investigation stemming from an April 6, 2025, traffic stop on U.S. 23 in Louisa. Horn was a passenger in the vehicle driven by Martin Cline, 62, of Lovely.

During a search of the vehicle and Horn’s belongings, officers found multiple bags of suspected narcotics, including 9.891 grams of cocaine and .788 grams of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and $9,434 in cash.

Horn’s charges included first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (over 4 grams of cocaine), first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (less than 2 grams methamphetamine) and drug paraphernalia.

According to the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, Horn admitted to officers that cocaine found inside her purse belonged to her. Investigators later conducted a consensual search of her cellphone and found multiple text messages indicating drug trafficking.

The Kentucky State Police Division of Forensic Services laboratory later confirmed the seized substances were cocaine and methamphetamine.

The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office thanked Kentucky State Police for “their diligent work in removing these drugs from our community.”

Trooper Zachary Wright led the investigation. Troopers Ryan Hale and Austin Castle assisted at the scene.

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Kyle J. Newsome prosecuted the case.