ROCKINGHAM — A man released from federal prison late last year is now facing local drug charges.
Bobby James Ewing, 47, was recently arrested by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office following a traffic stop, according to a press release issued Wednesday.
The press release states that investigators with the RCSO Community Impact Team conducted a traffic stop Tuesday, May 23 at the intersection of Mill Road and Hancock Street (U.S. 1) in Rockingham. The reason for the initial stop is not given.
While the driver, who was not named, was being issued a citation for driving without a license, a K-9 conducted an open-air search and reportedly alerted on the vehicle.
The occupants were asked to step out and Ewing allegedly attempted to conceal a cigarette pack.
One deputy reportedly took the pack and found a baggie of crack cocaine and a glass smoking pipe inside.
Deputies also learned that Ewing was wanted for a federal probation violation.
Ewing was arrested and charged with felony possession of cocaine and a misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia and was also served a federal detainer. He was booked into the Richmond County Jail where he is being held on a $10,000 secured bond on the drug charges and without bond on the federal detainer. He is scheduled to appear in court June 1 on the local drug charges.
Records with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons show Ewing was released from custody on Oct. 28, 2022.
Federal court records show Ewing was convicted of felon in possession of a firearm in 2016 and sentenced to 66 months and three years of supervised release.
Ewing had been previously convicted on the same charge in a different case and sentenced three years earlier to 36 months with three years of supervised release.
Ewing’s criminal history dates back to 1992 when he was convicted of misdemeanor larceny and breaking and entering and served fewer than three months behind bars, according to records with the N.C. Department of Adult Correction.
He also four years after being convicted in Richmond and Moore counties on the following charges:
1995 – three counts of felony breaking and entering; one count of “other felony”
1997 – six counts of felony breaking and entering; one count each of common law robbery and unauthorized use of motor conveyance
1998 – felony breaking and entering
In 2003, Ewing was convicted of felony breaking and entering and larceny after breaking and entering. He was initially given probation, which was revoked the following year when he was convicted on another count of larceny after breaking and entering and being a habitual felon.
He was incarcerated from February 2004 to April 2011.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
