Probationer sentenced on felony drug charge
A Hot Springs man on probation from prior felony convictions was sentenced to six years in prison Monday after pleading guilty to being in possession of heroin when probation officers conducted a home visit last year.
Jherrod Antwan Sampson, 26, who lists a Piney Loop address, had remained in custody in lieu of $100,000 bond after his arrest Aug. 3, 2016, and the subsequent revocation of his probation from a 2013 conviction for residential burglary and theft of property.
Sampson pleaded guilty in Garland County Circuit Court to one felony count of possession of a controlled substance with purpose to deliver, heroin, while an additional felony count of simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms was withdrawn. His sentence will run concurrent with the revocation of his probation and he was also ordered to pay $295 in court costs.
Deputy Prosecutor Trent Daniels said Monday special agent Edwin Starr with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms would have been a key witness if Sampson had gone to trial and he was facing “an uphill battle” making arrangements through the Department of Justice to get the agent here to testify.
“He was the one who tackled (Sampson) after he fled and would have been a necessary witness,” Daniels said.
In light of that, since Sampson was willing to plead guilty to the lesser charge, he withdrew the firearms charge. Daniels noted there may be additional federal charges pending against Sampson in the case.
According to the affidavit, on Aug. 3, 2016, Garland County sheriff’s investigators accompanied agents with the Arkansas Department of Community Corrections on a home visit to Sampson’s former residence on Marion Anderson Road after investigators received information there were allegedly several firearms at the residence. As a convicted felon, Sampson was prohibited from owning or possessing any firearms.
Upon their arrival, Sampson attempted to flee from the residence, jumping out a window, but was apprehended after a short foot pursuit. Acting on a waiver previously signed by Sampson as a condition of his probation, agents searched the residence and reportedly found a .12-gauge shotgun and a .38-caliber revolver in a bedroom closet that were turned over to sheriff’s investigators. It was learned the revolver had been reported stolen in a commercial burglary.
In searching another bedroom believed to be used by Sampson, based on items found in the room, agents found a
.22-caliber pistol, a 9-mm pistol, another .38-caliber revolver, a
.380 pistol, a .22-caliber revolver and a .22-caliber rifle, all of which had been reported stolen out of Garland County.
Starr searched Sampson’s person after taking him into custody and in his shorts pocket found four bundles with 33 one-hit packs of what later tested positive for heroin, approximately 10.4 grams, which was turned over to the 18th Judicial District East Drug Task Force.