FORNEY, Texas — A traffic stop in the Forney area yielded three drug-related arrests and the seizure of 14 gallons of an illicit alcoholic beverage.
FORNEY, Texas — A traffic stop in the Forney area yielded three drug-related arrests and the seizure of 14 gallons of an illicit alcoholic beverage.
During the traffic stop, on March 26, deputies reported the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and, upon further investigation, the three occupants of the vehicle were taken into custody.
The driver, identified as Michael Harrington of The Colony, Texas, was charged with possession of a controlled substance in penalty group 1 less than one gram, a state jail felony. A passenger, identified as Reginald Funches of Carrollton, Texas, was charged with possession of marijuana under two ounces, a class B misdemeanor.
A second passenger, identified as Brian Sanford, also of Carrollton, was charged with possession of a controlled substance in penalty group 1 greater than or equal to 200 grams and less than 400 grams, a first-degree felony, and tampering or fabricating physical evidence with intent to impair, a third-degree felony.
14 gallons of an illicit alcoholic beverage was located in the trunk of the vehicle, Kaufman County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Jolie Stewart told inForney.com.
The beverages did not have any markings indicating the type of alcohol. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission was subsequently contacted by investigators.
Harrington and Funches have since been released on $6,000 and $4,000 bonds, respectively, according to jail records. Sanford remains held at the Kaufman County Jail on bonds totaling $130,000.
Illicit beverages are described by law as an alcoholic beverage: manufactured, distributed, bought, sold, bottled, rectified, blended, treated, fortified, mixed, processed, warehoused, stored, possessed, imported, or transported in violation of this code; on which a tax imposed by the laws of this state has not been paid and to which the tax stamp, if required, has not been affixed; or possessed, kept, stored, owned, or imported with intent to manufacture, sell, distribute, bottle, rectify, blend, treat, fortify, mix, process, warehouse, store, or transport in violation of this code.