Tewksbury Police Hit Drug Jackpot During Motel Check

TEWKSBURY, MA -- Tewksbury police hit the jackpot when they checked the Motel 6 registry for anyone with warrants and found a New Hampshire woman and her boyfriend in a room with a bevy of illegal drugs including heroin, Xanax , steroids and crystal meth.

In Lowell District Court on Monday, Eric J. Shaughnessy, 34, of Dracut, was ordered held on $10,000 cash bail after pleading not guilty to a charge of being a fugitive from justice, possession to distribute a Class A drug, possession to distribute a Class B drug, and possession to distribute a Class E drug (two counts).

Co-defendant Christine Gray, 42, of Manchester, N.H., had her bail set at $7,500 cash after pleading not guilty to trafficking in Methamphetamine, possession of a Class A drug, possession of a Class B drug, possession of a Class E drug and being a fugitive from justice.

Both defendants are during back in court on May 4 for a probable-hearing.

Tewksbury police allege in court documents that on April 9 during a routine check of the registered guests at the Motel 6, they found that Shaughnessy had registered using his real name. Shaughnessy, former of Nashua, N.H., was wanted by New Hampshire officials for theft.

At 7 a.m., Tewksbury officers went to room 125 where they found Shaughnessy, Gray and an orange syringe cap on the floor next to Shaughnessy. Police also saw a silver spook with brown liquid in it, according to court documents.

On a table, police saw a clear vial labeled "Decabol,'' a steroid. There were several prescription bottles - neither bore the names of the defendants - that had several different type of pills in them, police allege.

Police then checked on Gray's warrant status and found she had a warrant out of Lawrence District Court from Methuen for breaking and entering, drug possession and malicious destruction of property.

When she was being arrested, police found in Gray's pocket what was believed to be Methamphetaime, commonly referred to as "crystal meth,'' according to court documents.

Tewksbury police note that Shaughnessy has an adult record with 28 charges including drug possession, assault with knife and possession of a large-capacity firearm.

Gray has 27 charges on her adult record for breaking and entering, drug possession, forgery and larceny, according to police.

Courtesy photos from the Tewksbury Police Department of Christine Gray and Eric J. Shaughnessy.