A local man arrested as part of a multiagency warrant roundup earlier this year pleaded guilty to multiple felony charges Monday in Garland County Circuit Court.
Vincent Remaldo Sanders, 20, who was set to stand trial on the charges Jan. 31, 2019, pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance, marijuana, with purpose to deliver, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a defaced firearm and was sentenced to six years' probation on each count, to run concurrently, fined $4,000 and ordered to pay $545 in court costs.
One of the possession of drug paraphernalia counts was reduced from a more serious charge of simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, punishable by up to life in prison, and an additional misdemeanor count of first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor was withdrawn.
Sanders was one of 25 suspects arrested in the first two weeks of April as part the operation, coordinated by officers with the 18th Judicial District East Drug Task Force, which also involved the Garland County Sheriff's Department, Hot Springs Police Department, Arkansas Community Correction's Special Response Team, Arkansas State Police, Homeland Security, the U.S. Marshals Service, Diplomatic Security Service and the Garland County Detention Center.
Five of the suspects, including Sanders, Jalontae L. Blevins, 20, Michael Dewayne Collins Jr., 19, Marquista Paschal, 20, and a juvenile, 17, were arrested on April 16 between 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. at a residence at 131 Liberty St. after investigators developed information Collins and Blevins, who were being sought on multiple warrants, were "frequenting" that house.
After arresting Blevins at the Liberty Street residence, officers continued surveillance and observed a silver Mercury Grand Marquis, driven by Sanders and occupied by Collins, Paschal and the juvenile, pull into the driveway. Investigators noticed a handgun in the front seat between Sanders and the juvenile front seat passenger.
The handgun, a loaded 9-mm with an extended magazine, had the serial number filed off. Investigators also found a glass jar containing 20.5 grams of marijuana and multiple baggies.
Also in the vehicle was a 5-week-old baby who was sitting next to a container that had a baggie with 16.4 grams of marijuana and digital scales. Department of Human Services workers came and took custody of the baby.
Sanders also had a baggie of marijuana and $272 in cash on his person and Collins had $184 in cash on his person.
Sanders was arrested along with the others and released on April 20 on $20,000 bond. He pleaded not guilty to the charges on July 9. Collins is set for a disposition hearing on his charges on Oct. 1 and Paschal is set for an omnibus hearing on Nov. 13 on his charges, to determine the admissibility of any statements he made to investigators.
Local on 09/27/2018