Attempting to hide drugs under seat of car in New Kent results in 10-month jail sentence for Deltaville man

A Deltaville man who tried to slide drugs under the passenger seat of a vehicle during a traffic stop entered guilty pleas to several charges during Monday morning proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court.

Morgan Lee Mullins, 26, of the 200 block of Deagles Road, entered guilty pleas to one count each of possession of a Schedule I/II drug and misdemeanor obstruction of justice stemming from a June 5 incident as part of a plea deal. He also entered a guilty plea to one count of possession of drugs by a prisoner from a violation that took place on July 14.

In a summary of evidence provided by New Kent Assistant Commonwealth Attorney Greg Overholser, on June 5, a Virginia State Trooper initiated a traffic stop on Route 33 in the eastern portion of the county. As the officer was processing the stop, he noticed the passenger of the vehicle moving around and placing something under his seat. The trooper obtained the information of the passenger, identified as Mullins, and discovered that he had warrants for his arrest. When the officer approached the vehicle, the driver fled the scene while Mullins took off on foot. The officer was able to catch up with Mullins while the driver was also stopped. When the trooper searched the vehicle, he noticed a bag under the seat with a substance, later identified as methamphetamine through testing. Mullins was arrested and taken into custody.

On July 14 and while incarcerated at Henrico Jail East in Barhamsville, investigators intercepted mail intended for Mullins. It was discovered that through several methods of communication that Mullins was attempting to have drugs delivered to him in jail. A test of one of the packages determined that Suboxone was on it while Mullins was in possession of it. The new charge was filed on Mullins on the offense.

Under the plea agreement, Mullins received a five-year jail sentence with four years, two months suspended (10 months to serve) on the possession of methamphetamine conviction. All five years on possession of drugs by a prisoner and all 12 months on the misdemeanor obstruction of justice convictions were suspended.

In another circuit court matter, a Providence Forge man will spend just over two months in jail after accepting a plea agreement stemming from an Aug. 21 pursuit.

Bryant Maurice Brooks, 36, of the 7400 block of Courthouse Road, entered guilty pleas to one count each of felony hit and run and misdemeanor DUI (first offense).

In a summary of evidence, on the aforementioned date in question, a Virginia State Trooper was monitoring traffic on Route 60 (Pocahontas Trail) when a vehicle entered his radar at a high rate of speed. When the officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the driver continued, initiating a pursuit. As other troopers joined in, the driver, later identified as Brooks, sideswiped one of the pursuing officer’s vehicle. Police were able to end the chase and take the defendant into custody. After detecting the odor of alcohol, Brooks admitted that he had been drinking earlier that night. A subsequent test revealed his blood-alcohol content (BAC) level to be .17, more than twice the legal limit.

Under the plea agreement, Brooks received a five-year sentence with four years, 10 months suspended (two months to serve) on the felony hit and run conviction. He received a 180-day jail sentence with 175 days suspended on the DUI charge, with the five days to serve being mandatory time as required by the law. He must also pay a $500 connected to the DUI conviction.