ROCKINGHAM — A man is facing meth trafficking charges following a traffic stop in East Rockingham.
According to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, investigators with the Community Impact Team stopped a vehicle Nov. 6 on Church Street after seeing it was being driven by 33-year-old Larry Stewart McDonald, of Rockingham — who they knew had a revoked license.
(Note: Court records show Stewart with an address on Church Street, as well as one in Hamlet.)
While McDonald’s information was being run, RCSO K-9 Hunter was walked around the vehicle and reportedly “alerted to the presence of narcotics” inside.
During a subsequent search of the vehicle, investigators reportedly found: 46.38 grams of methamphetamine; 7.8 grams of fentanyl; a set of digital scales; and an unspecified amount of cash.
McDonald was arrested and charged with: trafficking in methamphetamine; trafficking in opium or heroin; maintaining a vehicle for a controlled substance; possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver methamphetamine; possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a Schedule II controlled substance; possession of a Schedule II controlled substance; and possession of drug paraphernalia.
According to the sheriff’s office, McDonald was booked into the Richmond County Jail on a $100,000 secured bond. However, he did not appear in online jail records on Nov. 12 when the press release was issued. Court records show McDonald’s bond was posted on Nov. 7. It appears his next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 21.
Court records show McDonald has several pending traffic violations for driving with a revoked license from the Hamlet and Rockingham police departments and N.C. State Highway Patrol.
McDonald was first convicted in 2016 of possession with intent to sell a Schedule VI controlled substance (marijuana) and selling a Schedule VI controlled substance, according to records with the N.C. Department of Adult Correction.
In 2019, McDonald was convicted of possession of a firearm by a felon. His probation was revoked in February of 2022 when he was convicted of possession with intent to sell a Schedule II controlled substance, and in the following June of selling a Schedule I controlled substance and he served 17 months in prison.
McDonald’s parole ended on March 27.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
