Alaska troopers arrest mother of Bristol Palin's boyfriend on drug charges

Source: Agencies  |   2008-12-20  |     ONLINE EDITION

ALASKA State Troopers have arrested the mother of Bristol Palin's boyfriend on drug charges.

Sherry L. Johnston was arrested Thursday after troopers served a search warrant on a Wasilla home. The 42-year-old Johnston has been charged with six felony drug counts.

Troopers did not identify the drug involved in a brief mention on the agency's Website.

However, trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters said late Friday in a news release that the charges were in connection to the drug OxyContin, a strong prescription painkiller.

Johnston is the mother of 18-year-old Levi Johnston. Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican nominee for vice president, announced in September that her 18-year-old daughter, Bristol, was pregnant and Johnston was the father.

Sherry Johnston was released from jail in Palmer on $5,000 bail. She was not scheduled to be immediately arraigned.

Peters said no one else had been charged. Few details could be released yesterday because the investigation was ongoing, she said.