News

Drug dog sniffs out almost 2 pountds of meth

By Lightning Reports, Published: September 8, 2020

District Attorney Greg Newman credited a Polk County drug dog for sniffing out more than a pound and a half of methamphetamine in a stranded motorist’s car, leading to an arrest and conviction. The case was among the felony charges tried in recent Superior Court terms in Henderson, Polk and Transylvania counties.

Superior Court Judge Peter Knight sentenced William Andrew Lee Morgan, 24, of Mount Pleasant (Cabarrus County), to a mandatory term of seven years and six months in prison for trafficking in methamphetamine by possession.
Morgan was approached by Polk County deputies who had been alerted to a stranded motorist in the Land O’Lakes section of the county. Morgan had active warrants for his arrest from Cabarrus County and the Polk Sheriff’s drug dog was called in to sniff for illegal narcotics. After the canine alerted to the presence of narcotics in the back seat, deputies found more than 800 grams of methamphetamine (1 pound, 12 ounces) in a backpack belonging to Morgan. A gun and scales for the weighing of narcotics were also located in Morgan’s car.

“The Polk County deputies did an excellent job sizing up the situation with Mr. Morgan,” Newman said. “Once it was determined that he was wanted for felonies in his home county, the drug interdiction unit was brought in and the discovery of a large amount of meth was made with the help of ‘Karak,’ the drug dog. This case was the result of alert community policing and prompt response from Sheriff Wright’s deputies. This was a positive outcome and I appreciate everything the Polk County Sheriff’s Department does to keep our communities free from drug suppliers.”

In Henderson County, Judge Knight sentenced Harley Weatherly, of Candler, to a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and 10 months for trafficking in methamphetamine. Weatherly pleaded guilty to possessing between 28-200 grams of methamphetamine during a motor vehicle stop by the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office.

In Transylvania County, Jordan Hogsed, 360 West Fork Loop Road in Rosman, pleaded guilty to the negligent infliction of child abuse causing serious bodily injury. Judge Knight sentenced him on Aug. 24, four years and eight months in prison. Hogsed will be eligible for release after serving a minimum sentence of three years.

Also, in Transylvania County, Travis Ray Queen of Brevard, no permanent address, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine. Based on his prior record, Judge Knight sentenced him to serve an active prison sentence of one years and seven months.

“I want to repeat to the public that the North Carolina Chief Justice has suspended jury trials until further notice due to the current COVID crisis,” Newman said. “Currently, we are limited in Superior Court to address probation violations and guilty pleas. We have been unable to have a jury trial since March and no one knows when the Chief Justice will allow us to resume prosecuting cases that require a jury. Plans are underway between my office, our Superior Court Clerks and with Judge Peter Knight to move forward with trials, when authorized, in a safe and healthy way. As soon as all North Carolina district attorneys are given the green light to proceed, I will make additional public comments about our plans to move forward.”