Charles Mewborn - North Carolina
# 0516871
State: North Carolina
Sentence: 8 years 9 months to 10 years 6 months
Offense: Trafficking Cocaine by Possession; Trafficking Cocaine by Sale; Trafficking Cocaine by Transport
Court: Pitt County
Priors: Possession of Schedule II Substance (3/31/1995, 8/21/1996); Maintaining a Dwelling of Controlled Substances (8/21/1996)
Date of Sentencing: 8/17/2004
Date of Birth: 3/4/1973
Projected Release Date: 4/24/2013
Nature of Offense: During the summer of 2003 authorities showed up at Charles Mewborn’s house and accused him of selling 54.5 grams of cocaine to a criminal informant nearly six months earlier in February. The police stated that they had a video recording of a transaction that occurred between Charles and an informant, who turned out to be a friend of Charles’ father. They pressed Charles for information on other drug dealers in exchange for a reduced sentence if charged, but he denied any involvement and refused to cooperate. Charles was not arrested at the time; authorities arrested him approximately three months later. He was offered a plea agreement of three years, but convinced he would be found innocent, he turned it down and went to trial. At trial, the video recording of the alleged transaction was the primary evidence against Charles. The video showed a vehicle that fit the description of the one Charles drove, but Charles himself could not be identified on the tape. Charles was found guilty and received three consecutive sentences of 35 to 42 months. Charles’ case was heard before the same Judge who had sentenced him for a prior drug charge in 1996—a charge that he was on probation for at the time of his arrest. Charles and his family believe the judge in his case was biased and placed blame on Charles before his trial even began. They feel that he consequently did not receive a fair sentence.
Guideline Sentence: Charles had a criminal history record of II and received a sentence of 35 to 42 months for each of his three charges, to be served consecutively.
Sentences of Others Involved: According to Charles, the informant received a sentence of one year and six months.
Personal Background: Charles became involved with drugs as a means to supplement his income when he was in his early twenties. A high school graduate, Charles had worked hard to support himself since he was 16 years old, but he found it difficult to make ends meet and turned to the lucrative business of dealing cocaine. While he himself did not use cocaine, members of his extended family did and he consequently had ties to drug dealers. After two arrests, Charles found himself sentenced to eight months jail time and seven years probation. This served as a wake-up call for Charles and he strove to turn his life around while he was on probation.
Upon his release, Charles severed all ties to drugs and dedicated himself to his work and his family. He worked as a crew leader for an herbicide business and for an automotive company where he was described by his manager as a “reliable, trustworthy and prompt” employee. In addition to these jobs, Charles managed and owned Crescent Woods Millennium Stables. The stables are located on his property and house six horses. Charles gave private horseback riding lessons and frequent tours to local Girl Scout troops and youth groups. Charles was well respected in his community and many people were shocked when he was charged with this offense. Charles’ employers, friends, and individuals who had met him through his work at the stable wrote letters of support to the judge prior to his sentencing.
Charles is married with a nine year-old daughter and a two year-old son. His family has remained extremely supportive of him throughout his ordeal, but unfortunately they have faced hardships because of Charles’ incarceration. His wife works, but has to receive government assistance to make ends meet and his mother is currently working three jobs to help support his wife and kids. On the impact Charles’ incarceration has had on the family, his wife states:
“It’s been hard, I can’t lie. I would say with the bills, but I think for the most part, it’s been raising my kids without their father in the home.”
Complied from PSR and inmate information.
11/7/05 BA