HAMLET — Police stumbled upon a drug case earlier this week while looking into a completely separate crime.
Capt. Randy Dover said he was investigating a break-in when he went to speak with someone on Wednesday and noticed a vehicle in the driveway that shouldn’t be there.
He also recognized 51-year-old Richard Harris McFayden, who had an order for arrest for being a habitual felon.
Dover said he called another officer to the scene and looked through the window of the vehicle and saw needles and scales.
A search of the vehicle also turned up 6 grams of methamphetamine and 0.5 grams of heroin.
McFayden was arrested on the OFA and charged with one felony count each of: possession of methamphetamine; possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver methamphetamine; possession of a Schedule I controlled substance; and maintaining a vehicle, dwelling or place for a controlled substance. He was also charged with a misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
McFayden was booked into the Richmond County Jail under a $50,000 secured bond for the drug charges and is being held without bond on the habitual felon charge. He is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 4 on the drug charges.
Online court records show McFayden is also facing the following charges from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office: two counts of trafficking opium or heroin; possession of a Schedule I controlled substance; possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a Schedule I controlled substance; possession of a stolen motor vehicle; injury to personal property; and resisting a public officer.
His court date for those charges and the habitual felon charge is Feb. 15.
McFayden’s criminal record dates back 20 years to his first conviction of unauthorized use of motor conveyance in 2000, according to the N.C. Department of Public Safety Division of Adult Correction.
He’s been convicted multiple times in Richmond County of misdemeanor larceny and breaking and entering, with several revocations landing him behind bars.
In 2013, McFayden was convicted of misdemeanor larceny and first-degree trespassing in Scotland County.
His most recent conviction was in 2017 for multiple prior larcenies and larceny over $1,000, both felonies. His probation was also revoked on a 2016 drug conviction.
McFayden was released from prison Feb. 24, 2019 and his probation ended in November of that year.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
