Richmond County deputies reportedly find meth, fentanyl, other drugs in 'suspicious' vehicle

ROCKINGHAM — A man is facing multiple charges after allegedly being caught with a variety of drugs earlier this week.

According to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a call of a suspicious vehicle in a wooded area around the vicinity of North Beaunit Drive and Mill Road around 10:15 p.m. Monday.

The first deputy on scene reportedly found a Toyota car with two people in the backseat. When the deputy looked through the passenger window, he reportedly saw what looked like marijuana in the cupholder.

One of the occupants was identified as 42-year-old Jonthan Paul Starling of Rockingham. The other occupant is not identified in the press release.

Starling allegedly admitted to there being more narcotics in the car and in his possession.

Deputies reportedly seized:

• 5 grams of methamphetamine
• 2 grams of fentanyl
• 15 grams of marijuana (about a half-ounce)
• Six dosage units of Xanax
• 15 dosage units of buprenorphine strips

Starling was arrested and charged with: possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver methamphetamine; possession of methamphetamine; possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a Schedule II controlled substance; possession of a Schedule II controlled substance; possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver marijuana; simple possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance; simple possession of a Schedule II controlled substance; two counts of simple possession of a Schedule III controlled substance; possession of a marijuana paraphernalia; and possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was booked into the Richmond County Jail where he is being held on a $60,000 secured bond. Starling is scheduled to appear in court March 9.

(Note: State court records show an individual with the same name but with a birth date three days earlier, but the RO was unable to confirm if records refer to separate individuals or if the records contain a typo.)

Starling has several prior convictions but has never been sentenced to prison in the state, according to records with the N.C. Department of Public Safety Division of Adult Correction:

• 1997 - possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance
• 1998 - communicating threats, damage to property
• 1999 - misdemeanor breaking and entering (but listed as a felony), possession of drug paraphernalia
• 2004 - possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance
• 2012 - assault on a female, communicating threats
• 2015 - possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, possession or distribution of a meth precursor

All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.