Possible Life Sentence For Spotsylvania Man Facing Narcotics Charge

SPOTSYLVANIA, VA — Two roommates from Spotsylvania were arrested separately and at nearly the same time on narcotics charges on Wednesday, according to the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office. For one of the men, this arrest could mean a sentence of life in prison, if he were convicted.

Deputies responded around 6:48 p.m. to the Wawa at 199 Falcon Drive in Fredericksburg for a welfare check. They found a man who had a baggie containing what appeared to be narcotics hanging out of his pocket, according to the incident report. After telling the deputies he needed medical attention due to a narcotics-related issue, the man was taken to a medical facility.

“Upon arrival at the facility, the male suspect fled from the ambulance and medical staff. His apparent need for treatment was quickly revealed to be a ruse to avoid jail,” according to the sheriff’s office.

“Deputies quickly located him hiding in nearby bushes, and after losing his ‘game of hide and seek,’ the male ran on foot in an effort to escape. Deputies swiftly apprehended him, and additional narcotics were recovered in his possession.”

The man, who was identified as 38-year-old Paul White, was arrested and charged with possession with intent to distribute a Schedule I/II narcotic, resisting arrest, and possession of controlled paraphernalia, according to the sheriff’s office.

Coincidentally, White’s roommate, 47-year-old Tommy Negron, was involved in a motor vehicle crash at about the same time in the 4500 block of Lafayette Boulevard, according to reports. He was arrested and charged with possession of a Schedule I/II narcotic and driving under the influence of Narcotics.

White and Negron were remanded to the Rappahannock Regional Jail, according to the sheriff’s office. During their investigation, deputies seized suspected cocaine and fentanyl.

On Thursday morning, White was arraigned in Spotsylvania General District Court and a preliminary hearing was set for Oct. 22.

On Friday, White’s possession with intent to distribute a Schedule I/II narcotic charge was bumped up to a manufacturing/distribution of a Schedule I/ll narcotic with three or more previous convictions on similar charges, according to court records. If convicted on this new charge, he faces a potential prison sentence of life or not less than 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000, under the Virginia Code.

White’s resisting arrest and paraphernalia charges are both Class 1 misdemeanors, which are punishable by up to a year in jail and/or a fine of up to $2,500, according to Virginia law.

Negron was also arraigned Thursday morning in Spotsylvania General District Court and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for Oct. 7, according to court records.

The possession of a Schedule I/II narcotic charge is a Class 5 felony, which is punishable by a prison sentence of one to 10 years, or up to 12 months in jail, and a fine up to $2,500, under the Virginia Code. The DUI charge is a Class 1 misdemeanor.