Man pleads guilty to drug charges

Smith
Smith

A local man arrested earlier this year on multiple drug charges after he was spotted in a restaurant parking lot wearing a mask pleaded guilty Monday in Garland County Circuit Court.

James Lewis Smith II, 27, pleaded guilty to felony charges of simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, possession of meth with purpose to deliver, possession of a controlled substance with purpose to deliver involving prescription pills and possession of drug paraphernalia and was sentenced to six years' probation on each count, to run concurrently, fined $6,000 and ordered to pay $545 in court costs.

Deputy Prosecutor Trent Daniels said Monday Smith was there in the parking lot selling drugs to a second man, later identified as Marquiz Shanto Moutry, and was wearing a mask and armed with a gun because he was afraid of him.

"Initially I wasn't going to offer a plea," Daniels said, but learned Smith, who is a first-time offender, had completed a rehabilitation program at GYST House in Little Rock. "I really respect the program they have there. It's a life-changing type place and he got cleaned up while there."

He said Smith is now considered a habitual offender with four felony convictions and if he were to relapse and violate his probation he could face up to 42 years in prison on the charges. Smith was arrested on May 15 and remained in custody for more than three months before being released on $5,000 bond and then entered rehab.

Moutry, 26, a previously convicted felon, had fled the scene before Smith was arrested. After a brief standoff with Hot Springs police on Aug. 31, Moutry was arrested at a residence in the 300 block of Skyview Terrace on multiple felony warrants. He remains in custody in lieu of $50,000 bond.

According to the affidavit, on May 15, shortly after 10:30 a.m., police Lt. Shaun Roach responded to the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant, 114 Airport Road, regarding a suspicious gold Chevrolet Malibu parked in the lot and driven by a person wearing a mask.

Roach states he observed the car, which was occupied by two males, and saw a gold mask on the driver's seat headrest. He approached the car on the driver's side as it started to back out, but he was able to get the attention of the driver, later identified as Smith, and he stopped.

As he started to speak to Smith, the passenger, later identified as Moutry, jumped out and fled on foot. Smith told Roach he was armed and the officer found a loaded .38-caliber pistol in a holster on Smith's right hip.

Police Sgt. Chris Hays arrived to assist and spoke to Smith, who admitted he and his passenger had parked in the lot to smoke meth and there were three meth pipes inside a glove in the car.

The car was searched and three baggies containing 1.3 grams of what later tested positive for meth were located inside a cigarette pack. Three glass pipes were found inside a glove in the center console and a loaded 12-gauge shotgun was found in the back seat. There were several unused small baggies scattered around the vehicle and a prescription bottle with one Clonazepam pill and 21 Diazepam pills.

Local on 11/21/2017

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