Prosecutors say a Lindenhurst woman sold cocaine to undercover detectives on numerous occasions in Lake County, including near a church daycare during school hours.
Jessica M. Draper, 33, of Lindenhurst, was charged with manufacturing or delivery of cocaine near a school, two counts of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Emily Shanley-Roberts said Draper sold drugs in the spring and summer of this year to undercover officers with the Lake County Metropolitan Enforcement Group.
The transactions occurred on six separate occasions and Draper chose the locations during the arranged buys.
During four of the six buys, Draper picked a location within 500 feet of a church that had a daycare.
Children were at the daycare during the buys as they occurred during school hours.
Draper sold over 12 grams of cocaine during the transactions, Shanley-Roberts said, adding that the woman intended to sell more but had run out of supply by the time the undercover purchaser met with her on one of the occasions.
“At any point, this defendant could have stopped selling illicit drugs, could have chosen different locations not within close proximity to a daycare and places of worship but instead she continued to do so,” Shanley-Roberts said.
Draper has prior drug arrests and at least 13 failures to appear in court.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Draper pending trial, calling her a threat to the community and a willful flight risk.
Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak ordered Draper held in the Lake County Jail pending trial after granting the petition.
Draper is scheduled to appear in court again on August 15 for a preliminary hearing.