ROCKINGHAM — A woman was allegedly caught with meth and pills after leading deputies on a pursuit down Airport Road over the weekend.
According to a press release issued Monday, March 25 by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, deputies and investigators with the Traffic Safety Unit and Community Impact Team attempted to stop a truck on Luther Street in East Rockingham for unspecified traffic violations.
The driver, 42-year-old Cherry Lynn Sewell, reportedly pulled over, but took off once the deputy approached the truck.
Deputies followed the vehicle down Airport Road until it turned left onto Ghio Road, just north of the South Carolina state line.
The RCSO’s newest K-9, Hunter, reportedly alerted to narcotics in Sewell’s purse, where investigators reportedly found an unspecified quantity of methamphetamine and hydrocodone pills.
Sewell was arrested and charged with fleeing to elude arrest with a motor vehicle, felony possession of a Schedule II controlled substance and misdemeanor simple possession of a Schedule II controlled substance.
Deputies also issued several citations for traffic violations and served Sewell with three outstanding orders for arrest for failing to appear in court on drug and theft charges. Online jail records show she is charged with two counts of failure to appear on a felony, misdemeanor larceny and second-degree trespassing.
Sewell was booked into the Richmond County Jail where, as of late Monday morning, she was still being held on a combined $61,000 secured bond. Her court date for most charges is scheduled for April 11. The date for one of the FTAs is listed as April 22.
Online court records show Sewell has the following pending charges:
- 2022 – felony possession of cocaine; possession of methamphetamine; possession of drug paraphernalia; and a misdemeanor probation violation
- 2023 – felony possession of a Schedule I controlled substance; two counts of possession with intent to sell or deliver a Schedule II controlled substance; and possession of drug paraphernalia
Court records also list multiple driving infractions including: speeding; driving while license revoked; aggressive driving; reckless driving with wanton disregard; failure to heed a light or siren; driving left of center, passing on the right; having unsafe tires; failure to stop at a stop sign or flashing red light; possession of an open container; and failure to wear a seat belt.
Her court appearance on the traffic violations is also slated for April 11.
Records with the N.C. Department of Adult Correction show Sewell has several prior criminal convictions over the past two decades:
- 2004 – driving while impaired (Montgomery County)
- 2008 – possession of drug paraphernalia
- 2012 – driving while license revoked
- 2015 – delivering or selling a Schedule II controlled substance
- 2016 – misdemeanor larceny
- 2021 – obtaining property by false pretenses
- 2022 – possession of drug paraphernalia
Records indicate Sewell was given probation for each conviction.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
