News Search for escapee leads to meth, marijuana charges and federal case

One man’s apparent attempt to avoid some jail time led to the arrest of three people in rural Vinton on drug charges, including felony methamphetamine charges and at least one federal charge for one of the three for a large hydroponic marijuana operation.

Court records indicate that Derek Scott, 50, who lives at 3170 58th Street in rural Vinton, has been charged with gathering materials for the making of meth. The criminal complaint filed in Benton County District Court alleges that Scott admitted to authorities that he is a user of meth and marijuana.

Two other people who reported living at the same address were also arrested for that charge: Megan Jo Azelton and Patrick Allen Marx, both age 32. Azelton told officers she would provide a “dirty” if she were to be tested for meth or marijuana, according to the criminal complaint filed in her case.

While these charges are felonies under state of Iowa law, Scott also faces federal felony charges for another drug operation that authorities say they found at his residence.

Authorities who had gone to the Scott property to search for an inmate who did not return to the Linn County jail after a work release discovered a trailer with three air conditioners running in 60-degree weather, and smelled marijuana, according to a federal criminal complaint, which also included the following information:

There were also several surveillance cameras in use on both the house and the trailer. Inside the house DEA officers found drug paraphernalia, marijuana and meth. The trailer included a hydroponic marijuana operation with as many as 100 plants, along with dried marijuana, several weapons and items associated with the use of an indoor marijuana operation.

The federal complaint says that officers from the Iowa State Probation and Parole High Risk Unit went to the Scott property to search for an inmate who did not return from work release, and was rumored to be living there.