ROCKINGHAM — A traffic stop last week led to the driver and passenger of a vehicle both facing drug charges.
According to an incident report, a Rockingham Police officer stopped a Honda Accord on East Washington Street for a rear lamp and headlight violation just after 10 p.m. July 20.
The officer states in the report that he noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle after speaking with the driver.
Officers reportedly found a total of 11 grams of a “clear rock like substance” and a half-gram of a “green leafy substance” during a search of the vehicle and passenger’s pocketbook.
Police also seized two cigarillos, and two glass pipes.
Both the driver and passenger were arrested.
William Curtis Hoffman, 40, of Rockingham, is charged with possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver methamphetamine, maintaining a place for a controlled substance, simple possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance and assault on a government official or employee.
Police also charged 30-year-old Natalie Rachelle Banks, of Hamlet, with possession of methamphetamine, possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana, possession of marijuana paraphernalia and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Hoffman was jailed on a $25,000 secured bond; Banks is being held under a $15,000 secured bond. Both are scheduled to appear in court Aug. 5.
Online court records show Hoffman was also cited for failing to drive with two headlamps, a rear lamp violation, driving with a revoked license, and having a fictitious or altered title, registration card or tag.
Court records show Hoffman also has two traffic citations in Scotland County.
Hoffman is on the N.C. Sex Offender Registry for a 2001 conviction of taking indecent liberties with a child. He as 20 years old at the time, however, the victim’s age is not listed.
He served 15 months for that crime after his probation was revoked, according to records with the N.C. Department of Public Safety Division of Adult Correction.
In 1997, Hoffman was convicted on five counts of felony larceny (including attempted and aiding and abetting). His probation was revoked and he served two consecutive sentences totalling nearly 14 months.
Banks has no prior convictions in the state.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
