JONESBORO, Ark. — Two suspects facing felony charges of possession of fentanyl with purpose to deliver were in court on Monday.
Raheam Maleke Burton, 29, and Jasper Perry, 35, were both ordered held on $225,000 cash or surety bond by Judge Tommy Fowler. Each of the accused faces a charge of possession of fentanyl with purpose to deliver, a Class A felony punishable by 6 to 30 years in prison. They also face other charges. The police incident report lists Burton as a Blytheville resident, while Perry is listed as being without a permanent residence.
The probable cause affidavit states that on August 16, Officer Kelemen, with the Jonesboro Police Department, conducted a traffic stop on a gray passenger car near the intersection of Belt Street and Scott Street. The reason for the stop was unconfirmed insurance. The officer said both the female driver and male passenger, Burton, provided names and dates of birth that were proven to be false. A rear-seat passenger, Perry, was also present.
The officer deployed his K9 partner to perform an exterior sniff. The dog gave a positive alert. Officers began a probable cause search of the vehicle. They found 3.5 grams of suspected marijuana in the center console. Police found digital scales and a box of sandwich baggies with some being tied off.
As officers continued their search, they found a hairbrush with a removable end. Inside, police found 43 fentanyl tablets (6.3 grams), 9.9 grams of methamphetamine, and 0.2 grams of suspected ecstasy in tablet form. A meth pipe and syringe were also found in the vehicle.
Burton was arrested for the fentanyl charge; possession of meth/cocaine with purpose to deliver, a Class B felony; possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class D felony; possession of marijuana and obstructing governmental operations, both Class A misdemeanors. Burton also had a non-payment of fines warrant, owing over $4,000 in fees, the judge said.
Although the judge reminded him of his right to remain silent, Burton insisted on speaking to the court. He said he was a passenger in the vehicle and the drugs were no where near him. He insisted he had no history of drugs. Judge Fowler immediately noted a possession of controlled substance charge from August, 2021. Burton said that was only for marijuana.
Perry was arrested on the fentanyl charge; possession of meth/cocaine with purpose to deliver, a Class B felony; possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class D felony; possession of marijuana, a Class A misdemeanor. Perry was also held on a non-payment of fines warrant, owing $935 in fines and fees, the judge said.
Similarly, Perry also requested to speak to the court. He said he didn’t know anything about any of the drugs in the car. He also said he didn’t have a history of drug possession charges but once again, Judge Fowler brought up a previous charge from July 2018, for which Perry was convicted. Perry then said he meant he had no previous possession with purpose to deliver charges.
The probable cause affidavits reference the driver of the vehicle as Heather Nicole Smith, 29, of Trumann. However, she was not in court for a probable cause hearing on Monday. She was arrested in the incident, according to the incident report from JPD.
All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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