A local parolee arrested in February after a gun and a large quantity of drugs were found after he fled from a traffic stop was sentenced to 10 years in prison Wednesday after pleading guilty to charges.

David James, 28, who has remained in custody since his arrest on Feb. 9, pleaded guilty in Garland County Circuit Court to possession of a controlled substance, ecstasy, with purpose to deliver and was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with 10 years suspended, and to possession of a firearm by certain persons, and was sentenced to six years in prison, to run concurrently, for a total of 10 years in prison.

Additional charges of simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, possession of marijuana with purpose to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia were withdrawn as part of the plea.

James was previously convicted in 2016 of possession of cocaine with purpose to deliver and sentenced to 12 years in prison followed by 10 years suspended, which was revoked Wednesday with the 10 years to also run concurrently.

According to the probable cause affidavit, on Feb. 9, Hot Springs police Officers William Stockwell and Aaron Combs saw a gray 2008 Pontiac G6 in the 300 block of East Grand Avenue that "appeared to be attempting to evade officers."

A computer check showed the car was registered to James, who had a suspended driver's license. Officers located the car again headed west on Hobson Avenue and were able to look at the driver and confirm it was James.

They attempted to make a traffic stop on Linwood Avenue, activating lights and siren, but the car continued on Linwood to South Street and then onto School Street with the driver refusing to stop. It continued back to Hobson, finally stopping in the 300 block, where James exited the car and fled on foot west on Hobson.

James ran south on Second as officers yelled for him to stop and then ran west on 00010 Alley where he jumped over a rock wall directly behind the 500 block of Second Street. Officers located him again at Third and South streets and ordered him to the ground and he complied and was taken into custody.

James made a spontaneous statement that "all he had was marijuana and pills on him." A computer check showed he was on active probation with a search waiver on file.

Officers were waved down by a witness who saw James running through the alley, throwing a plastic bag on the ground, before jumping over the wall. Officers were then contacted by a second witness who said he heard two people in the alley and then found a Glock 9-mm, with an extended magazine, in the driveway nearby.

Officers recovered the gun, which was loaded with 21 rounds, and then searched the alley where they found a plastic bag containing multiple pills and found several more pills on the ground. In searching James' vehicle, officers found a plastic bag containing marijuana, several baggies and digital scales.

Once at the detention center, James was asked if he had any illegal substances in his possession and he stated he wished to remove his pants because "he was afraid there might be loose pills that fell out of the baggie he had them in."

Officers helped James to remove his pants and shoes and located multiple pills in both his pants and shoes, which were noted to be the same type as the ones found in the alley. The pills, a total of 400, tested positive for ecstasy and the marijuana was found to be 199.4 grams or almost half a pound.

Print Headline: Parolee caught with gun, drugs after fleeing sentenced to 10 years

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