ROCKINGHAM — A convicted sex offender was recently caught with nearly five ounces of pot, according to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.
A patrol deputy reportedly performed a traffic stop Monday, March 6 on Rosalyn Road, south of Rockingham for unspecified traffic violations.
While speaking to the driver, identified as 22-year-old Cody Alan Harding of Hamlet, the deputy reportedly smelled marijuana in the vehicle.
The deputy reportedly issued Harding a citation for driving with a revoked license and asked if there was any marijuana inside the vehicle.
Harding reportedly handed the deputy the ash tray containing several partially smoked marijuana cigarettes and admitted that there was more in a clothing bag.
Deputies reportedly found and seized a total of 4.85 ounces of marijuana from the vehicle.
Harding was arrested and charged with felony possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance and a misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
He was processed and released on a $2,500 unsecured bond.
Online court records show Harding has pending citations for speeding and driving while license revoked in Hoke County.
Records with the N.C. Department of Public Safety Division of Adult Correction show Harding was convicted in 2020 of taking indecent liberties with a child.
According to the N.C. Sex Offender Registry, the incident occurred in 2018 when Harding was 17 and the victim was 12.
Harding was given a suspended sentence and is required to register as a sex offender for a minimum of 10 years, records show.
He was previously convicted in 2019 on misdemeanor counts of injury to property, breaking and entering and larceny in Scotland County.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
