New video, details released in Lonna, Chris Barton drug case

State Attorney's Office releases undercover video of drug bust

MACCLENNY, Fla. – New details and undercover video have just been released in the Baker County case against Lonna and Chris Barton, the parents of Lonzie Barton, the toddler who disappeared in Jacksonville on July 24, after the couple was arrested and accused of selling the synthetic drug Molly. 

The counts of possession of a synthetic narcotic with intent to sell came two days after 25-year-old Lonna Barton, and her husband, 41-year-old Christopher Barton, were arrested after an undercover drug deal at a Baker County motel.

According to officials, the video shows Lonna Barton injecting herself with Molly and having Chris Barton help her inject it.

The video also shows Lonna Barton and an undercover officer waiting on Chris Barton and Shawn Hall, a third person arrested and charged with selling Molly along with the Bartons, to bring the synthetic drug to a hotel room for the undercover officer to buy, officials said.

WATCH: Undercover video from Baker County Sheriff's Office

With the new charges, bond for Chris Barton was increased to $950,000 and $700,000 for Lonna Barton. Chris Barton's bond is higher because he also faces a charge of sales of a synthetic opiate.  

The couple was arrested hours after they appeared in a Duval County courtroom, each asking for custody of their 5-year-old daughter. Their younger son, Lonzie, was 21 months old when he disappeared while in the custody of Lonna Barton's boyfriend, Ruben Ebron.

REPORT: Christopher Barton, Lonna Lauramore Barton, Shawn Hall arrest report

News4Jax said the couple left the Duval County Courthouse about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. According to the arrest report, the drug transactions with undercover agents in Macclenny took place where at 2:45  and 6:50 p.m.

The Bartons were wearing the clothes they had on in family court. when they were arrested by the Baker County Sheriff's Office.

Lonna Barton's arrest came as she was out on bond on charges of child neglect and lying to police in connection with the disappearance of Lonzie. Prosecutors in Jacksonville said they will file a motion to have her bond revoked.

Baker County Sheriff Joey Dobson said the Barton's arrests were in no way related to the disappearance of their son, who has never been found.

Lonna and Christopher Barton walked to jail in Baker County

The arrest report says a confidential informant was told Lonna and Chris Barton used syringes to inject themselves with Molly, also known as MDMA or ecstasy, and they encouraged the informant to do the same.

Baker County officials said Hall and the couple had been under surveillance and investigation for about a month. When Chris Barton sold Molly to undercover detectives three times between Tuesday and Wednesday, the Sheriff's Office made the arrests.

According to the arrest report, Tuesday's transaction was across from Glen Church of Christ in Glen St. Mary. Wednesday's transactions took place at the Motel 6 on State Road 121. Video surveillance taken at the hotel was collected as evidence. 

According to officials Hall and Chris Barton were picked up in a vehicle that was headed down Interstate 10 just after they left the American Inn, where police found and arrested Lonna Barton. 

In court Thursday morning facing felony drug charges, neither Lonna nor Chris Barton showed emotion. 


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