Several Repeat Offenders Sentenced to Jail

Steele

Collel Steele, 44, was tried before a Mecklenburg County jury beginning on April 18th with the Honorable W. Robert Bell, Superior Court Judge, presiding.  The jury found Steele guilty of 1) felony larceny after breaking or entering and 2) felony possession of stolen goods. Steele admitted his status as a habitual felon and was sentenced to 12-15 years in prison.

Steele has 12 arrests in Mecklenburg County since 2008.  His convictions include common law robbery, robbery with a dangerous weapon, larceny from the person, and breaking or entering. Additionally, Steele was previously convicted of being a habitual felon in 1998.

Aaron Gladden, 33, having previously plead not guilty and requesting a trial by jury, changed his plea to guilty as charged. Gladden was sentenced for 1) possession with intent to sell or deliver a cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school and 2) for being a habitual felon.  Judge Bell sentenced him to 67-90 months in prison.

Tavaris Fowler, 30, was called for trial before The Honorable Forrest D. Bridges, Superior Court Judge and plead guilty to two counts of possessing cocaine before the jury was empaneled.  Fowler received 14-18 months in prison; that sentence to begin at the expiration of a 21-26 month sentence currently being served in a North Carolina prison.

Winslow

James Thompson, 41, was called for trial before The Honorable H. William Constangy. Thompson was charged with 1) possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine, 2) sell cocaine, 3) deliver cocaine, and 4) being a habitual felon. Thompson was alleged to have sold cocaine to an undercover police officer. Yesterday, a Mecklenburg County jury found Thompson not guilty of the three felony drug charges; as a result of the verdict, the defendant’s habitual felon status could not be considered by the jury.

Tyrus Winslow, 39, pled guilty to two counts of possession of cocaine. Winslow was sentenced to 24-30 months in prison. This sentence is to begin at the expiration of 95-123 month sentence currently being served in a North Carolina prison.  Winslow has been arrested 12 times in the past three years in Mecklenburg County.