A Malvern teen was arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges late Friday after a gun and over 3 ounces of marijuana were reportedly found in his possession following a traffic stop.
Vincent Matthew Dijulio, 19, was taken into custody shortly after 11:30 p.m. and charged with felony counts of simultaneous possession of drugs and a firearm, punishable by up to life in prison, and possession of a controlled substance, marijuana, with purpose to deliver, punishable by up to six years, and a misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance, punishable by up to one year in jail.
Dijulio, who also had a warrant for failure to appear, was being held on an $11,000 bond and is set to appear March 1 in Garland County District Court, although he will likely be arraigned sooner once district court reopens.
According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly before 11:30 p.m. Friday, Garland County sheriff's Cpl. Matthew Cogburn saw a red Kia Forte eastbound on Malvern Avenue that crossed the centerline three times so he stopped it at Malvern and Akers Road.
He made contact with the driver, identified as Dijulio, and allegedly noted a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and saw what appeared to be a rolled joint in the passenger side floorboard that looked like it was recently lit.
When asked, Dijulio reportedly admitted it was a joint and he was smoking it when he got pulled over. He also reportedly admitted he had more marijuana in a backpack, but noted he had a medical marijuana card.
A computer check revealed the warrant for his arrest so he was taken into custody, but reportedly submitted to field sobriety tests first. The affidavit did not indicate the result of the tests.
In checking the backpack, Cogburn allegedly found it contained a small baggy with 16.6 grams of marijuana and a small container of what appeared to be prescription marijuana. Cogburn also found a locked black bag in the back of the vehicle that contained a Bersa .380 pistol in the front zippered pocket.
Dijulio gave him the combination to unlock the bag and Cogburn allegedly found a large bag with 62.7 grams of marijuana and another smaller baggy with 6.1 grams of marijuana. The total amount of marijuana was 85.4 grams, or 3.01 ounces.
Dijulio reportedly admitted that all the drugs and the gun belonged to him.