GREENSBORO — A previously convicted felon from Southern Pines was sentenced on Nov. 12 in federal court in Winston-Salem, announced United States Attorney Matthew G.T. Martin of the Middle District of North Carolina.
Clark DuVaul Frye Waddell II, aka “Woody” Waddell, age 26, was sentenced to a 44-month term of imprisonment by Chief United States District Judge Thomas D. Schroeder. In addition to prison time, Waddell was ordered to serve three years of supervised release and to pay a special assessment of $100. Waddell pleaded guilty on Aug. 8, 2019, to possession with intent to distribute marijuana and knowingly possessing a firearm after previously being convicted of a felony offense punishable by imprisonment for more than one year.
“The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to forging partnerships between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in order to reduce violent crime and protect the people of the Middle District by identifying and prosecuting offenders like this.” said United States Attorney Martin. “I commend the Southern Pines Police Department, ATF, and AUSA DuPré for their diligence in this case.”
“The Southern Pines Police Department prides itself on developing and maintaining a unified law enforcement/public safety approach to protect our community,” said Chief Bob Temme. “This ever improving shift in organizational culture not only involves the creation of external partnerships, but also citizen involvement, data analysis, intelligence gathering and problem solving. This arrest and conviction highlights many of these successful strategies.”
Court records show that on March 23, 2019, at approximately 2:20 a.m., officers from the Southern Pines Police Department attempted to stop a vehicle being operated by Waddell in the area of East Indiana Avenue and Fort Bragg Road in Southern Pines.
At this time, Waddell drove through several residential streets stopping on East Hedgelawn Way, where he exited the vehicle without putting it in park, and fled from officers on foot. The vehicle came to rest after striking a utility box. While being pursued by officers, Waddell was observed throwing a large bag of marijuana to the ground. As the foot chase continued, Waddell was observed pulling a firearm from his person and attempted to discard it by throwing it. Waddell was taken into custody by the pursuing officers.
Recovered in this incident was over 57 grams of marijuana, $2,476 in U.S. currency, digital scales and a loaded Glock .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol.
Waddell was previously convicted in Moore County for possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana, and in Wake County, North Carolina, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
and prohibited by state and federal law(s) from possessing a firearm. At the time of his arrest, he was out on a $100,000 bond following an arrest by the Southern Pines Police Department on May 27, 2018, for various drug offenses and for resisting arrest.
The case was investigated by the Southern Pines Police Department and the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole R. DuPré.
