Parolee faces felony charges after allegedly passing out in car
A local felon on parole who was reportedly found passed out in his vehicle early Monday was arrested on multiple felony and misdemeanor charges after drugs and a large amount of money were found in his possession.
John Billy Gray Jr., 34, who lists a Trapview Trail address, was taken into custody shortly before 9 a.m. at the Valero gas station, 2616 Albert Pike Road, and charged with felony counts of possession of meth with purpose to deliver and unauthorized use of another person’s property to facilitate a crime, each punishable by up to 20 years in prison, and possession of drug paraphernalia, punishable by up to six years.
Gray, who was also charged with misdemeanor counts of theft by receiving under $1,000 and public intoxication, was being held on a zero bond and is set to appear today in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, around 8:45 a.m., Hot Springs police Officer Jason Greene responded to the Valero regarding a man passed out at the wheel of a silver Nissan Sentra.
Garland County sheriff’s deputies had the man, identified as Gray, out of the car and sitting on the curb when Greene arrived.
Greene noted Gray had difficulty staying alert and was slurring his words, nodding off, and told Greene he was “unsure how he got to the gas station.” Greene noted it was apparent he was under the influence of narcotics.
A computer check showed he was a felon with a valid search waiver on file. It was also noted the license plate on the Sentra returned to a different vehicle and it was discovered the license plate had been reported stolen recently.
The vehicle was searched and 1.3 gram of what later tested positive for meth was found in a folded dollar bill on the center console. On the driver’s floorboard, officers located a partially loaded syringe of meth, on the passenger floorboard was a Milk Duds candy box that contained two baggies of meth, a total of 7 grams, and in Gray’s pants pocket, another baggie with 1.4 gram of meth was found.
The affidavit notes $1,383 in cash was found on Gray’s person so agents with the 18th Judicial District East Drug Task Force were notified and took possession of the money and drugs.
Gray was previously convicted in Garland County Circuit Court on Feb. 14, 2017, of possession of a controlled substance, meth, and sentenced to five years in prison and later paroled. On Nov. 13, 2018, he was arrested on felony charges of possession of meth with purpose to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released on a $15,000 bond on Nov. 21, 2018, and pleaded not guilty to the charges on Feb. 25, 2019. He is set to stand trial on May 10.