A local man was sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty Monday to multiple felony drug charges stemming from a raid on his motel room and his attempt to smuggle meth and cocaine into the jail earlier this year.
Rodney Dewayne Harper, 43, who has remained in jail in lieu of bonds totaling $15,000 since his arrest June 6, pleaded guilty in Garland County Circuit Court to possession of meth with purpose to deliver, possession of cocaine with purpose to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia and furnishing, possessing or using prohibited articles and was sentenced to eight years on each count, to run concurrently, while court costs were expunged for time served.
According to the affidavit, on June 6, around 2:15 p.m., Hot Springs police Investigator Trent Chadick and other members of the police Special Investigation Division -- Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant at the Shamrock Motel, 508 Albert Pike Road, and found Harper inside the room.
A thorough search of the room uncovered a set of digital scales coated with a "white powdery residue," a box of sandwich baggies containing the same residue, several razor blades coated with the same substance and more baggies with the corners cut off, all located in the kitchen. In Harper's vehicle, a white 1988 Mercury Marquis, parked outside, investigators located a smokeless tobacco can containing a baggie with 1.1 grams of suspected marijuana.
Investigators repeatedly asked Harper if he had any more narcotics concealed on his person prior to him being transported to the detention center and he denied having anything. He was searched at the jail and deputies discovered two plastic baggies concealed under his privates, and $714 in his wallet and pocket.
The first baggie contained 17 individually packaged bags containing a white powered substance that tested positive for meth, about 4 grams total. The second baggie held 13 individually packaged bags containing a white rock substance that later tested positive for cocaine, with a total weight of 3 grams.
Harper's failure to admit to having drugs in his possession resulted in him facing the additional charge for bringing a controlled substance into the detention center.
Local on 10/25/2017