BY DAN HILDEBRAN
Monitor Editor
STARKE— A Jacksonville man who asked a Bradford deputy for a ride to the nearest store was sentenced to four years in prison after the lawman discovered methamphetamine and a pipe on his person.
James Michael Carter, 59, pleaded no contest to the Aug. 18 offenses of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and possession of drug equipment.
According to an arrest report, Starke Police officer Robert Mosley Jr. saw Carter walking northbound on U.S. 301 near Lawtey just before midnight and pulled over.
“Mr. Carter advised he had been walking for quite some time and requested to be transported to a nearby store,” wrote Mosely in the report. “I advised Mr. Carter I would be able to assist him with transportation, however, I would need to check his person for any weapons prior to placing him in my marked patrol vehicle.”
Mosely wrote that Carter then became visibly nervous. The officer added that he saw the defendant toss a clear, glass pipe on the ground directly behind where he was standing.
“I conducted a pat down of his person, where I located a small clear baggie, containing a clear crystal-like substance, along with a portion of a red plastic straw in his front right pants pocket,” Mosely wrote.
According to court papers, Carter’s prior convictions include aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of cocaine, robbery with a firearm, escape, resisting an officer with violence, grand theft, driving with a suspended or revoked license, affray, possession of drug paraphernalia, reckless driving and solicitation of prostitution.
