A local felon on parole from convictions in 2019 was sentenced to 15 years in prison last week after pleading guilty to multiple drug charges stemming from a traffic stop last year.
Dwon Erving Ridley, 26, who has remained in custody since his arrest Oct. 6, 2020, pleaded guilty in Garland County Circuit Court on Tuesday to simultaneous possession of drugs and a firearm, possession of oxycodone with purpose to deliver, possession of a firearm by certain persons and possession of drug paraphernalia and was sentenced to 15 years on each count, all to run concurrently, with court costs and fines expunged for time served.
Ridley also pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with purpose to deliver and was sentenced to 10 years and to possession of Xanax with purpose to deliver and was sentenced to six years, to run concurrently with his other sentences.
According to court records, on Sept. 20, 2017, Ridley was convicted in Saline County of felony fleeing and possession of marijuana with purpose to deliver and sentenced to four years' probation. On April 24, 2019, in Pulaski County, he was convicted of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia and sentenced to five years' supervised probation. On June 24, 2019, in Garland County, he was convicted of felony fleeing and possession of a controlled substance, hydrocodone, and sentenced to four years in prison, with the entire sentence suspended.
Deputy Prosecutor Trent Daniels said Ridley is "definitely a repeat offender," noting that his previous conviction didn't involve a firearm and involved a smaller amount of drugs.
"(Ridley) increased the seriousness of his criminal activity and subsequently this sentence reflects that and that we're taking it more seriously," Daniels said, noting he has additional charges pending in Garland County stemming from the fact more drugs were found hidden on his person at the jail after his arrest.
An additional felony charge of possession of oxycodone with purpose to deliver, punishable by up to 20 years, and furnishing, possessing or using prohibited articles, punishable by up to 10 years, are pending with a disposition hearing set for July 7 in circuit court.
According to the probable cause affidavit on the Oct. 20, 2020, arrest, around 4 p.m., Hot Springs police Officer Bryan Rossburg and Officer 1st Class Chris Chapin saw a gray Dodge Challenger driving at a high rate of speed westbound on Cones Road which then ran the stop sign at Cones and Malvern Avenue.
Rossburg activated his lights to make a traffic stop and noted the vehicle slowed to about 10 mph, but continued to Grant Street where the driver, later identified as Ridley, could be seen "moving erratically throughout the vehicle." The car finally turned onto Riley Street and stopped in front of 309 Riley, which was Ridley's listed address.
Officers made contact with Ridley and a computer check showed he was a convicted felon with a search waiver on file, so he was patted down. Rossburg felt a large bulge on Ridley's right hip that was determined to be a "wadded piece of paper" containing 148 oxycodone pills.
A further search uncovered what felt like a gun in Ridley's groin area that slid down to his knee cap. Ridley admitted it was a gun and it was removed and determined to be a loaded Remington 9-mm pistol.
In searching the vehicle, officers found a spoon with residue, multiple single pills scattered around the floorboards, center console and glovebox. There was a gray zippered bag containing more pills. Ridley, who had been moved to the back of a police unit, was seen to be moving around in the back seat and a search uncovered two baggies with a white powder and several more pills scattered around.
In Ridley's vehicle, they found a small amount of marijuana in the ashtray and in the cargo pocket of the passenger seat they found a set of "Cheech and Chong" brand digital scales, another spoon with residue, five Xanax bars and approximately 1.9 grams of cocaine.
Agents with the 18th Judicial District East Drug Task Force were notified and seized the vehicle and drugs.