A guy is facing meth trafficking charges after a traffic stop in East Rockingham.
According to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, investigators with the Community Impact Team stopped a car on Church Street on Nov. 6 because they noticed it was being driven by 33-year-old Larry Stewart McDonald of Rockingham, who had a revoked license.
(Note: According to court records, Stewart has addresses on Church Street and in Hamlet.
While McDonald’s information was being processed, RCSO K-9 Hunter was led around the vehicle and allegedly “alerted to the presence of narcotics” inside.
During a second search of the vehicle, detectives allegedly discovered 46.38 grams of methamphetamine, 7.8 grams of fentanyl, a set of digital scales, and an unidentified amount of cash.
McDonald was arrested and charged with trafficking methamphetamine, opium, or heroin, maintaining a vehicle for a controlled substance, possessing with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver methamphetamine, possessing with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver a Schedule II controlled substance, possessing a Schedule II controlled substance, and possessing drug paraphernalia.
According to the sheriff’s office, McDonald was placed into Richmond County Jail on a $100,000 secured bond. He did not, however, show in online jail records on November 12, the day the news release was produced. According to court documents, McDonald posted bond on November 7. It appears that his next court hearing is planned for November 21.
According to court documents, McDonald is facing many pending traffic charges for driving with a revoked license from the Hamlet and Rockingham police departments, as well as the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.
McDonald was initially convicted in 2016 of possessing with intent to sell a Schedule VI restricted substance (marijuana) and selling a Schedule VI controlled substance, according to documents with the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections.
McDonald was convicted in 2019 of felonious firearm possession. His probation was revoked in February 2022 after he was convicted of possessing with intent to sell a Schedule II controlled substance and selling a Schedule I controlled substance in June, for which he received 17 months in jail.
McDonald’s parole period expired on March 27.
All defendants who face criminal charges are deemed innocent until proven guilty in court.