ROCKINGHAM — A man with convictions in three counties is now facing felony and misdemeanor drug charges in Richmond County.
According to warrants, 37-year-old Omar Shountue Brown, of Cardinal Drive, Hamlet, was in possession of five different controlled substances during a traffic stop on June 20.
Brown was pulled after trash was seen blowing out of the back of his truck, according to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.
Warrants show Brown was found with an unspecified amount of methamphetamine and Ecstasy (methylenedioxy-methamphetamine or MDMA for short), suboxone in both pill and strip form, and up to a half-ounce of pot.
Suboxone is an opiate used to treat opioid dependence but can become addictive as well.
Although Brown isn’t facing any distribution charges, warrants allege he sold drugs from a 2002 Chevy Silverado.
Deputies also allegedly found White Owl cigars and rolling papers.
He was arrested and charged with one felony count each of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a Schedule I controlled substance, and maintaining a vehicle, dwelling or place for a controlled substance; as well as two misdemeanor counts of possession of a Schedule III controlled substance, and one count each of possession of up to a half-ounce of marijuana and possession of marijuana paraphernalia.
Online court records show Brown is also charged with a misdemeanor count of littering not over 15 pounds and an infraction of improper loading or covering of a vehicle.
Brown was booked into the Richmond County Jail under a $35,000 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in court Thursday on the drug charges and July 25 on the other charges.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Records with the N.C. Department of Public Safety Division of Adult Correction show Brown’s criminal history dates back to 2001, when he was convicted of possession with intent to sell a Schedule VI controlled substance (marijuana) and larceny from person, both felonies, in Richmond County.
His probation on those convictions was revoked in 2003 when he was convicted of assault inflicting serious bodily injury, misdemeanor hit and run and a miscellaneous motor vehicle violation, for which he served nearly 11 months behind bars.
In 2007, Brown was convicted of violation of a protective order in New Hanover County and served more than three months when his probation was revoked in Richmond County in 2009.
Less than a month after his release, Brown was convicted of possession with intent to sell a Schedule II controlled substance and a misdemeanor count of assault inflicting serious injury, resulting in a four-month incarceration.
Brown was given probation in 2010 when he was convicted of possession with intent to sell a counterfeit controlled substance and fleeing to elude arrest back in Richmond County. The following year, he again received probation for conviction of possession with intent to sell a Schedule II controlled substance in Columbus County.
Probation on both convictions was revoked in other counties and he served another five months behind bars, getting out just before Christmas.
Brown was later convicted of receiving stolen goods in Richmond County (2013) and possession with intent to sell a Schedule II controlled substance in New Hanover County (2015).
