Lucas sentenced on drug charges

Robin Lucas, who is awaiting murder charges in St. Francois County, has been sentenced to prison on a Jefferson County drug charge.

On Tuesday, Lucas, 35, of northern St. Francois County, was sentenced to five years in prison for producing a controlled substance with intent to distribute in Jefferson County. She pleaded guilty to the charge on July 18. The incident occurred last summer.

Lucas is charged in St. Francois County with first-degree murder and armed criminal action. The indictment alleges that after deliberation, Lucas knowingly caused the death of Thomas Triplett Jr. by shooting him April 22.

Her bond is set at $2 million and she is scheduled to be arraigned before Judge Kenneth W. Pratte on Sept. 7.

According to court records, members of the Mineral Area Drug Task Force went to Lucas’ camping trailer on Crow Lane on April 21 after receiving an anonymous tip about a meth lab there. The officers raided the property but no arrests were made that day.

After the shooting, witnesses who were at the property during and after the raid told law enforcement that Lucas thought Triplett was the anonymous tipster. They said she planned to shoot him.

The witnesses said Lucas habitually carries her rifle and other weapons to protect her “enterprise.”

Two witnesses said they were there with Lucas on April 22 when someone pulled up in a vehicle in the driveway and honked a horn. One said she saw Lucas head immediately for the gate armed with the rifle.

Both witnesses said they heard one shot. They said she came to the door and said, “I’ve shot Tommy, you have to help me.”

The witnesses said they fled the area because they were afraid Lucas would shoot them

Lucas told police that she shot Triplett in self-defense.