Felon arrested with gun, drugs after traffic stop early Saturday
A routine traffic stop resulted in the arrest of a felon Saturday morning on multiple charges after a loaded gun and drugs were allegedly found in his possession.
Robert James Belcher, 25, who lists an Oakdale Terrace address, was taken into custody shortly after 8:30 a.m. and charged with felony counts of simultaneous possession of drugs and a firearm, punishable by up to life in prison, possession of meth with purpose to deliver, punishable by up to 20 years, and possession of a firearm by certain persons, punishable by up to six years.
Belcher, who was also cited for driving on a suspended driver’s license, was being held on zero bond and was set to appear Monday in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly after 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Hot Springs police Officer Brandon McAdoo was patrolling in the area of Gorge Road and Park Avenue when he saw a maroon Nissan Pathfinder being driven by Belcher, whom he recognized and knew to have a suspended license, so he made a traffic stop in DeSoto Park, 1700 Park Ave.
A computer check showed Belcher had pleaded guilty on July 12, 2016, in Garland County Circuit Court to residential burglary and was sentenced to 10 years in prison with eight years suspended. He was on parole with a search waiver on file so McAdoo asked if there was anything illegal in the vehicle.
Belcher reportedly told him there was a marijuana blunt belonging to his wife in a backpack in the passenger seat and a gun under the driver’s seat. The officer located a loaded .22-caliber handgun under the seat. While looking for the marijuana blunt, he reportedly found a small black bag containing 2.2 grams of what later tested positive for meth.
In addition to his prior felony conviction, Belcher was arrested May 14 on felony charges of possession of a controlled substance, meth, and possession of drug paraphernalia, and is set to be arraigned in circuit court on those charges on Aug. 24.