Local man sentenced to three years in prison on felony drug charge

Fletcher
Fletcher

A previously convicted felon on probation was sentenced to three years in prison Monday after pleading guilty in Garland County Circuit Court to a felony drug charge from his arrest earlier this year.

Lorenzo Duane Fletcher, 33, who has remained in custody since his arrest April 1, pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance with purpose to deliver, marijuana, with his sentence to run concurrent with a sentence of three years for the violation of his probation.

Fletcher had been sentenced to six years' probation on Aug. 14, 2015, after pleading guilty to possession of meth or cocaine with purpose to deliver and two counts of possession of a controlled substance with purpose to deliver involving Xanax and marijuana.

According to the affidavit on his April 1 arrest, around 2:30 a.m., Garland County sheriff's Deputy Matt Cogburn made a traffic stop on a vehicle on Crystal Hill Road for having no license plate lights and made contact with the driver, identified as Fletcher, who was arrested on warrants for failure to appear, and a passenger, identified as Tyler Lane Cockrum, 22, of Hot Springs.

Cogburn noticed a glass pipe on the driver's side floorboard and asked Cockrum to step out of the car. Cogburn asked Fletcher if there was anything in the car he should know about and he said, "It should be good." In the front seat, Cogburn located a glass storage container holding a plastic bag of marijuana, approximately 21.4 grams.

Cockrum was going to be allowed to walk home, but asked for his jacket in the back seat. Cogburn located the jacket and noticed a heavy, large object in the front pocket which Cockrum said was money which belonged to him. Cogburn removed a total of $4,740 from the pocket.

He then patted down Cockrum and reportedly located another $226 in his back pants pocket and $80 in his wallet, all of which was confiscated.

Agents with the 18th Judicial District East Drug Task Force were notified and assumed the investigation.

Both Fletcher and Cockrum were charged with a felony count of possession with purpose to deliver marijuana, punishable by up to six years in prison. On May 22, the charge against Cockrum was amended to possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor, and he is set for a hearing today in Garland County District Court.

Local on 09/20/2017

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