Text led to arrest in Palin-friend case

The mother of Bristol Palin’s fiance sent text messages to two police informants discussing drug transactions before her arrest on felony drug charges, authorities say.

An affidavit filed Monday says Sherry L. Johnston sent text messages in which “coffee” was code for the drug OxyContin.

Johnston, 42, was arrested last week after state troopers searched her Wasilla home. She is free on bail.

Johnston is the mother of Levi Johnston, 18. Gov. Sarah Palin announced in September that her daughter Bristol, then 17, was pregnant and that Johnston was the father.

Authorities say the case began in the second week of September -- a couple of weeks into Palin’s campaign as Republican vice presidential candidate -- when investigators intercepted a package containing 179 OxyContin pills.

That led to the arrest of suspects who agreed to be informants.

According to the affidavit, Johnston sent a text message to one informant Oct. 1, writing: “Hey, my phones are tapped and reporters and god knows who else is always following me and the family so no privacy. I will let u no when I can go for cof.”

Ten days after Johnston said there wasn’t enough privacy for a drug sale, she texted again to set up a meeting at a store, according to the affidavit. The document says the informant received $800 to make a purchase, meeting investigators later with 10 pills of 80- milligram OxyContin.

A second purchase was made the following day, authorities said. This time the informant wore a hidden camera and a microphone.

A third purchase occurred Nov. 26. The informant was wired and police videotaped the meeting.