Probationer faces new drug charges after traffic stop
A local felon on probation who has charges pending from an alleged home invasion in 2019 was arrested on multiple felony drug charges following a traffic stop early Monday.
James Lawrence Freet, 27, who lists an E. Belding Street address, was taken into custody shortly before 7:30 a.m. and charged with possession of meth with purpose to deliver, punishable by up to 30 years in prison, unauthorized use of another person’s property to facilitate a crime, punishable by up to 20 years, possession of a controlled substance, suboxone, with purpose to deliver and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, each punishable by up to six years.
Freet remained in custody Tuesday in lieu of a $25,000 bond and is set to appear today in Garland County District Court.
Freet was convicted on Feb. 11, 2020, in Garland County Circuit Court of possession of a controlled substance, hydrocodone, and sentenced to six years’ probation. He was previously arrested on April 24, 2019, on charges of aggravated robbery, attempted aggravated residential burglary and terroristic act stemming from a home invasion that same day and later released on $50,000 bond with a disposition hearing set for June 21 in circuit court.
According to the probable cause affidavit on Monday’s arrest, around 7 a.m., Hot Springs police Officer Bryan Rosburg stopped a green 1999 Ford Contour in the 3900 block of Central Avenue for having expired tags.
The driver, identified as Freet, was determined to have a suspended driver’s license, no insurance and no registration for the vehicle. A computer check also showed he was on probation with a search waiver on file.
A passenger, 29, in the vehicle was found to have a warrant for failure to pay and was also detained. Due to Freet’s license being suspended, the vehicle was going to be towed and an inventory of the vehicle was started when Freet reportedly said, “what you want is in the unlocked lockbox.”
Inside the lockbox, Rosburg reportedly found three glass meth pipes, a small digital scale, roughly 40 suboxone strips and a baggie with 27.7 grams of what later tested positive for meth in “crystal rock form.”
When asked about the meth, Freet reportedly said “that is mine” and noted the passenger “had no idea what was in the car.” The passenger was later released on a criminal citation for the failure to pay.
It was determined the Contour did not belong to Freet and was registered to a local woman. Agents with the 18th Judicial District East Drug Task Force were notified and responded, taking possession of all the drugs and evidence, and taking over the investigation.
In addition to the felony charges, Freet was cited for driving on a suspended driver’s license, expired registration and no proof of liability insurance.