ROCKINGHAM — A man with only one prior drug conviction is now facing more than a dozen felony charges, accused of selling crack cocaine.
According to warrants, 47-year-old Alfred Alexander Watkins, of Rockingham, sold 2.5 grams of crack to two confidential informants on five occasions from January to July.
Watkins allegedly sold to one informant 0.5 grams on Jan. 23, 0.6 grams from a Ford Expedition on Feb. 5 and 0.5 grams on March 13. The second informant allegedly bought crack from Watkins on July 9 (0.5 grams) and 10 (0.4 grams).
Watkins was arrested July 26 and charged with five counts each of: possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a Schedule II controlled substance; selling a Schedule II controlled substance; and delivering a Schedule II controlled substance.
He is also charged with a single count of maintaining a vehicle, dwelling or place for a controlled substance.
A week after his arrest, Watkins remained in the Richmond County Jail under a $70,000 secured bond. He is scheduled to appear in court Aug. 15.
His most recent conviction, in 2010 for selling a Schedule II controlled substance, is Watkins’ only prior drug conviction, according to records with the N.C. Department of Public Safety Division of Adult Correction.
Watkins’ probation was revoked the following year, landing him behind bars for nearly 15 months.
All but one other of Watkins’ previous convictions have been misdemeanors.
He was first convicted in 1991 of shoplifting, then in 1993 he was convicted of driving while impaired and unauthorized use of motor conveyance.
In 1998, Watkins was convicted of misdemeanor breaking and entering and misdemeanor larceny and given probation.
Less than a month later, his probation on the larceny charge was revoked and received a split sentence, spending less than three months behind bars. Five months after his release, it was revoked again, resulting in a two-week incarceration.
Watkins was convicted of his first felony, robbery with a dangerous weapon, in 2001 and served just over three months.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
