ROCKINGHAM — A former standout quarterback for Richmond Senior High School is facing drug and weapon charges following an early morning traffic stop.
Deputies with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office arrested 24-year-old Leon Malik Zeigler after allegedly finding an assault rifle and marijuana in his vehicle.
According to a press release, a deputy was patrolling in the area around Old Cheraw Highway near Cordova around 1:20 a.m. Monday when he saw a vehicle fail to dim its lights to oncoming traffic.
The deputy turned around and followed the vehicle, which reportedly made several turns before pulling into a yard, according to the release.
Once stopped, Ziegler allegedly got out of the vehicle and became irate. The deputy reportedly told him several times to get back inside the vehicle, but Zeigler allegedly refused and “became more argumentative.”
Zeigler was detained and identified.
The deputy reportedly smelled an odor “of what he suspected was marijuana,” and Zeigler allegedly admitted to smoking it inside his car.
Deputies reportedly found 15 grams of suspected marijuana inside the vehicle, as well as an unspecified assault rifle under a blanket in the back seat.
Zeigler was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana, carrying a concealed gun, driving while license revoked and failure to dim headlights.
Deputies also reportedly served him with an outstanding order for arrest for failure to pay child support.
Richmond County Jail records show Zeigler was booked at 2:42 a.m. on a $25,000 secured bond on the criminal charges and a $5,106.45 cash bond for child support. He is scheduled to appear in court March 3 on the criminal charges and Feb. 17 for child support.
Online court records show no other pending charges.
Zeigler was convicted in 2018 of committing a crime against nature, a felony, according to records with the N.C. Department of Public Safety Division of Adult Correction.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
