March 20, 2023
By: Dwayne Page
Two men pulled over during a traffic stop Sunday were found with methamphetamine. One of them is a convicted felon.
56-year-old Howard Robert Mayo, Jr. of Liberty is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver; unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon; and a second offense of driving on a revoked/suspended license.
37-year-old Eric James Cox of Oakley Road, Liberty is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver.
Bond for Mayo is $84,000 while Cox is under a $50,000 bond. Both will make a court appearance April 6.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on March 19 a deputy pulled over a Ford F150 and spoke with the driver, Mayo and a passenger, Cox.
When asked by the deputy if they had any illegal items on them, Mayo said he had methamphetamine in his wallet. The officer found 2.01 grams of a white crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine. Mayo also informed the deputy that there was a 22-caliber rifle in the vehicle and that he was a felon. A loaded Savage 22 long rifle was found in the rear passenger compartment of the truck. A background check through central dispatch confirmed that Mayo is a convicted felon for a previous offense of sale and delivery of a schedule III drug and that his license is revoked due to a conviction for that offense on April 5, 2018.
During the traffic stop, Cox pulled from his wallet a clear baggie containing 0.89 grams of a white crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine.
23-year-old Alexander Paul Spore of Bethpage is charged with driving under the influence. His bond is $2,500 and he will make a court appearance April 6.
Sheriff Ray said that on March 18 a deputy spotted a vehicle traveling westbound on Nashville Highway which failed to maintain its lane of travel several times. The officer pulled over the automobile and spoke with the driver, Spore whose eyes were red and glassy. Spore was unsteady on his feet. His speech was slurred, and he had a strong odor of alcohol on him. Spore submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks.
46-year-old Tony Ray Bain of Short Mountain Road, McMinnville is charged with a third offense of driving on a revoked license.
Sheriff Ray said that on March 3 a deputy pulled over a BMW due to expired registration and spoke with the driver, Bain. The officer learned after checking through central dispatch that Bain’s license was revoked. He has two prior convictions for the same offense.