Published: February 09, 2008 10:21 pm      

Woman faces felony solicitation charge

A Beckley woman faces felony prostitution charges after police say she was found with a customer who paid her $7.

Debra Cozart, 37, was charged with third-offense prostitution solicitation, a felony, Detective Lt. Gant Montgomery said. Phillip Ray Furrow, 50, of 409 Barnstaple Drive, Daniels, was charged with misdemeanor solicitation.

Cozart was taken to Southern Regional Jail pending arraignment, Montgomery said.

Furrow was given a Beckley Municipal Court citation and released.

Montgomery said officers were on routine patrol Saturday in the Five Corners area of South Fayette Street and observed Cozart trying to flag down motorists for about an hour. Eventually, a man driving a pickup truck, identified as Furrow, picked up Cozart.

Officers followed the truck through back streets until Furrow parked in a corner on Ewart Avenue, Montgomery said. Police then approached the truck to speak with Furrow, who gave them consent to search the vehicle.

Furrow admitted Cozart had propositioned him, asking if he wanted to “have a good time,” Montgomery said. Cozart asked him for $20, but Furrow gave her $7. The money was found inside Cozart’s purse.

Inside Cozart’s purse, police also found a prescription bottle containing a generic form of Flexeril, a muscle relaxer, Montgomery said. The prescription’s owner was contacted and he told police the medication had been stolen from his home. Cozart was additionally charged with petit larceny.

Police also found drug paraphernalia, including crack pipes and a spoon, inside Cozart’s purse, Montgomery said.

— E-mail: apridemore@register-herald.com