Springdale man gets 38 years for drug charges
Posted on Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Acting on all jury recommendations, 4th Circuit Judge William Storey on Tuesday sentenced a Springdale man to 38 years in prison on several drug charges.
A jury found Ronney Cain, 38, guilty on Nov. 12 of the charges.
Cain was sentenced to 25 years and a $5,000 fine for possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver and seven years and a $5,000 fine for possession of marijuana with intent to deliver — both in connection with a July 9 arrest by Springdale police. Cain was sentenced to three years for possession of drug paraphernalia connected to this arrest.
Storey ran these three sentences concurrently but added the fines together.
Cain admitted during his trial to having some marijuana and about 2 grams of meth in his pockets when he was arrested on July 9.
He also admitted that he had a half-pound of marijuana in his vehicle during the stop on July 9 but said he did not know where almost an ounce of methamphetamine or more than a dozen small, plastic bags came from.
He said that the syringes and small glass pipes were his, along with two portable safes and a briefcase full of assorted items, including digital scales and calibrating weights.
Cain was sentenced to 10 years for possession of methamphetamine in connection with a July 20 arrest by Fayetteville police, who found small amounts of pot and meth in a vehicle Cain parked outside the Electric Cowboy bar around closing time. He was sentenced to three years in prison for a possession of marijuana count related to this arrest.
He was sentenced to three years in prison on a possession of marijuana count in connection with a June 5 traffic stop by Springdale police, who found some marijuana roaches, or butts, and a gun in a vehicle Cain was driving but said did not belong to him.
This sentence is stacked, meaning it runs consecutively, with the 10-year and 25-year sentences, making a total of 38 years.
Cain would have faced 48 years if Storey had stacked all of his sentences on the separate counts.
Cain was found not guilty on a charge of simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms in connection with the June 5 arrest. He testified that he did not know the gun or the roaches were in the car.
Following imposition of sentences, Storey mentioned Cain’s defense that police officers set him up — one, the judge said, that “didn’t work.”
“I think it’s ludicrous to suggest that these professional police officers would do such a thing,” Storey told Cain.
Cain’s attorney, Erwin Davis, planned to file a notice of appeal Tuesday. Storey said Cain could be released if he could make a $75,000 bond after the judgment and notice was filed. He went into custody following formal sentencing. Cain has drug charges pending in Benton County, Roberts said.
Cain received credit for 31 days served in the Washington County Detention Center.
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