Thursday, October 13, 2011

DA: Heroin Trafficker Convicted; Other Drug Offenders Plead Guilty

The District Attorney’s Drug Prosecution Team prosecuted six defendants the week of October 3-7, 2011, in Mecklenburg County Superior Court.  Two cases were called for trial and four defendants entered guilty pleas before the Honorable Yvonne Mims Evans and the Honorable Hugh B. Lewis, Superior Court Judges.

Rudolph Brooks
Juan Partida Rodriguez, 27, was tried for 1) two counts of conspiracy to traffic in heroin, 2) two counts of trafficking in heroin and 3) possession with intent to sell or deliver heroin. The jury returned a verdict of guilty on all charges. Judge Lewis sentenced Rodriguez to 140-168 months in prison.

Rudolph Brooks, 38, was tried for 1) eight counts of trafficking in heroin, 2) one count of sale of heroin, and 3) three counts of possession with intent to sell or deliver heroin. Judge Evans declared a mistrial, as the jury deadlocked and was unable to reach a unanimous verdict.

Four defendants plead guilty before their cases were called for trial:

William Richardson, 56, plead guilty to possession with intent to sell or deliver heroin. Judge Lewis sentenced Richardson to 16-20 months in prison.

Joel McCutchen
Joel McCutchen, 33, plead guilty to two counts of obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresenting oneself as a licensed practitioner. Judge Evans sentenced McCutchen to 45 days in the county jail; that sentence was suspended pending his successful completion of 12 months of supervised probation.

Jean Brown, 52, plead guilty to obtaining a controlled substance by fraud. Judge Evans deferred sentencing of Brown, pending her successful completion of 12 months of supervised probation.

Shawn Lee, 25, plead guilty to possession of cocaine. Judge Lewis sentenced Lee to 8-10 months in prison.