ROCKINGHAM — Two men are facing multiple drug charges following a multi-agency investigation in East Rockingham.
According to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, its Community Impact Team, along with the Rockingham Police Department’s Vice/Narcotics Unit and the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation, had made several undercover drug buys from a home on Smith Street.
On Sunday, the three agencies executed a search warrant at the home, finding and seizing “numerous items of drug paraphernalia,” according to a press release issued Monday.
Investigators also searched a vehicle, reportedly finding a box under the hood with 22.1 grams of meth, as well as an unspecified quantity of oxycodone, naloxone and amphetamine pills.
Jimmy Fain Strickland Jr., 61, was arrested and charged with one felony count each of possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a Schedule II controlled substance, possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, and maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance.
Strickland was also charged with one misdemeanor count each of possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Records show Strickland is being held in the Richmond County Jail under a $25,000 secured bond.
William Russell Morgan, 28, was also arrested. His charges include: three counts of possession with intent to manufacturer, sell or deliver a Schedule II controlled substance; one count of possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a Schedule III controlled substance; one count of possession of a Schedule II controlled substance; maintaining a vehicle, dwelling or place for a controlled substance; and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Morgan is being held on a $50,000 secured bond.
Both are scheduled to appear in court Sept. 8.
Online court records show Russell has pending misdemeanor charges of larceny and resisting a public officer, as well as several traffic infractions.
Strickland has a criminal history dating back more than 40 years, according to records with the N.C. Department of Public Safety Division of Adult Correction.
Records show Strickland was convicted of misdemeanor larceny in 1978 and given probation, which was revoked in 1980 when he was convicted on a felony count of receiving stolen goods, resulting in a 27-month incarceration.
Strickland was convicted in 1990 of injury to property, assault on a female and non-support, and in 2004 of an employment security violation.
Later in 2004, Strickland was convicted on two counts of possession of a Schedule II controlled substance and in 2006 of possessing stolen goods.
Strickland was convicted in 2007 of misdemeanor larceny in Union County, and his probation on one of the drug charges was revoked and the prior misdemeanor stolen goods charge was upgraded to a felony. He served three months.
In 2007, Strickland was convicted on two counts each of obtaining property by false pretenses and cheating. His probation was revoked in 2009, landing him behind bars for a little more than nine months.
Strickland’s most recent conviction was in 2019 on two charges of selling or delivering a Schedule II controlled substance and one count of obtaining property by false pretenses, and he was given a suspended sentence.
Records show Morgan is currently on probation following a June conviction on charges of (attempted) trafficking in opium or heroin, possession of a Schedule II controlled substance (two counts), and malicious conduct by a prisoner.
Morgan was previously convicted in 2017 on two counts of misdemeanor breaking and entering and one count of misdemeanor larceny in Scotland County.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
