A local felon on parole who was found passed out in his car on the King Expressway last year with over 13 grams of meth in his possession pleaded guilty Monday in Garland County Circuit Court.
Daniel Max Brown, 30, of Hot Springs, appeared with his attorney, Q. Byrum Hurst, and pleaded guilty to one count of possession of meth with purpose to deliver, punishable by up to 30 years in prison, and was sentenced to 10 years' probation through drug court with the stipulation he completes all the court's conditions. He was also fined $500 and ordered to pay $1,165 in court costs and fees.
Prosecutors had filed a motion to classify Brown as a habitual offender because he was convicted on Oct. 5, 2009, of three felony counts of residential burglary, but the motion was withdrawn as part of the plea agreement.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on Jan. 6, 2019, around 10:30 a.m., Hot Springs police Officer Jamie Ugartechea responded to the King Expressway just east of the McLeod Street exit regarding a silver Honda stopped in the roadway with its flashers on and the driver, later identified as Brown, slumped over the wheel.
The officer made contact with Brown and noted he had slurred speech and was extremely disoriented. While officers were speaking to him, Brown had trouble staying awake and was unsteady on his feet when they had him get out.
At that point, he was taken into custody for public intoxication and during a search of his person, officers found a small zippered bag in his right sock. The bag contained three baggies of what later tested positive for meth, a total of 13.4 grams.
A computer check showed Brown was on active parole from the Arkansas Department of Corrections at the time.