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CLINTON COUNTY — A 43-year-old Carlyle woman was sentenced Monday in Clinton County Court to 30 years in prison after she pleaded guilty to two of seven drug-related charges against her.

Paula Warden was arrested during a traffic stop in 2023 and charged with two Class X felonies for delivery of between 100 and 400 grams of methamphetamine, and possession of between 100 and 400 grams of meth, as well as Class 1 felony delivery of between 1 and 15 grams of fentanyl, and Class 4 possession of a controlled substance, as well as misdemeanor driving while license revoked and was cited for operating an uninsured motor vehicle.

Lance Hellige
(Source: CCSO)

A passenger in the vehicle, 41-year-old Lance Hellige, was sentenced in January to 31 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to Class X felony trafficking of meth, and 10 years for Class 1 delivery of less than 15 grams of fentanyl to be served concurrently.

Warden has remained in the Clinton County Jail since her arrest more than a year ago and was given credit for 400 days already served in the county jail.

Charged with the same felony offenses as Hellige, she pleaded guilty to the same two meth and fentanyl charges. She was sentenced to 30 years on the meth trafficking charge and a concurrent 10 years on the fentanyl offense. All other charges were dismissed per the plea agreement.