ROCKINGHAM — Richmond County deputies found more than the marijuana a driver reportedly admitted to smoking during a traffic stop.
According to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, patrol deputies pulled over a vehicle on Safie 6th Street in East Rockingham on Jan. 25 for “registration violations.”
While talking to the driver, 33-year-old Matthew Thomas Winfield of Rockingham, the deputies reportedly smelled marijuana.
Thomas reportedly admitted that he had smoked pot in the vehicle earlier.
One of the deputies saw marijuana on the console and Winfield and an unnamed passenger were asked to get out of the vehicle, according to the sheriff’s office.
While searching the vehicle, the deputies found a bag that Winfield reportedly claimed ownership of.
Inside the bag, deputies reportedly found:
- a Smith & Wesson 9mm handgun and three handgun magazines
- a folded dollar bill with 3 grams of heroin
- a glass container with an unspecified quantity of methamphetamine
- Two plastic bags of marijuana
- Assorted drug paraphernalia
Winfield was arrested and charged with: possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver marijuana; possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver heroin; possession of heroin; possession of methamphetamine; maintaining a vehicle, dwelling or place for a controlled substance; possession of a firearm by a felon; carrying a concealed gun; possession of up to a half-ounce of marijuana; and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Winfield was booked into the Richmond County Jail and, as of early Thursday afternoon, was being held on a $25,000 secured bond. He is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 9.
Online court records on Thursday did not reflect any traffic citations related to the initial stated reason for the stop.
Records with the N.C. Department of Public Safety Division of Adult Correction show Winfield was convicted in 2009 of receiving stolen goods. He was initially given probation, which was revoked the following year and it appears the charge was upgraded to possession of stolen goods, resulting in a nearly seven-month incarceration.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
