​Beachwood Man Pleads Guilty To Cocaine Possession: Prosecutor

BEACHWOOD, NJ — A man pleaded guilty Monday to possession of cocaine with intent to distribute following arrests in Manchester and Brick, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office announced.

Manchester Township police executed a motor vehicle stop on a vehicle driven by Michael Trotman, 35, of Beachwood, on May 30, 2018.

Trotman consented to a search of the vehicle, where police found a hidden compartment in the center console area containing about 700 grams of cocaine and quantities of codeine, oxycodone pills and marijuana packaged for distribution, in addition to $1,400 in cash, the OCPO said.

Although initially lodged in the Ocean County Jail on this charge, Trotman was subsequently released by the court from bail reform.

The second incident occurred on March 4, 2020, when Trotman was pulled over by Brick Township police for swerving on a roadway. Trotman was found to be in possession of more than one-half ounce of cocaine, as well as a quantity of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, the OCPO said.

Trotman was taken into custody and has been lodged in the Ocean County Jail since this arrest.

Trotman pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to distribute on Monday. A plea deal calls for him to serve 15 years in prison with a five-year period of parole ineligibility for the first search in Manahawkin and eight years for the second incident in Brick. The sentences would run simultaneously. Sentencing is scheduled for March 5.

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