3-YEAR INVESTIGATION LEADS TO DRUG CHARGES

West Bend -- A former Town of Barton couple has been charged with selling
marijuana after a three-year investigation.

Thomas A. and Danielle A. Livangood were charged Monday with two counts
each of being party to delivering a controlled substance in March 1997.

Although the criminal complaint was signed in May 1997, the Livangoods were
not arrested because of ongoing investigations.

Thomas Livangood, 27, was convicted in 1992 of selling cocaine to an
undercover officer.

That arrest made him harder to catch this time, according to a sheriff's
department detective.

"Once someone has been through this, they're always smarter the second time
around," Detective Bob Konstanz said. "There's a reason Livangood was
uncomfortable with new faces."

As early as July 1995, the department had information that Thomas Livangood
was selling marijuana again, Konstanz said.

"You hear things about this person or that person, but you have to have
facts to substantiate a case," Konstanz said. "Although we knew about this
guy for a couple of years, this case really started going in March 1997."

According to the criminal complaints:

On March 6, 1997, the informant handed Danielle Livangood $475 for a
quarter pound of marijuana while the three were in a car near Highway 144
and Wallace Lake Road.

Danielle Livangood counted the money, and Thomas Livangood tossed the
marijuana to the informant.

The package of marijuana was turned over to the Washington County
Multijurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit.

On March 11, 1997, the same informant made arrangements to buy a half pound
of marijuana from the Livangoods. He paid $500 up front.

The informant met the Livangoods at Old Settlers Park in downtown West Bend
about 10:30 p.m. that evening and gave Danielle Livangood an additional
$400 for the drugs. Thomas Livangood then walked with the informant to the
Riverwalk area.

"They approached a recycling bin and the defendant told (the man) the
marijuana was in the bin," the complaint stays. The informant reached
behind the bin and found the marijuana.

If convicted of both charges, each of the Livangoods could face up to six
years in prison and $50,000 in fines.

Thomas Livangood remains in the Washington County Jail in lieu of a $2,500
bail. Danielle Livangood is free on bail.

The couple will appear in court later this month.