A 29-year-old Hutchinson man who has five drug related cases pending in Reno County District Court entered “not guilty” pleas before District Judge Tim Chambers Monday.
Arthur Adams had earlier waived his right to a preliminary hearing in all the case against him and was to consider a plea offer from the state. The offer was for all five cases, but should he decline the offer, the state indicated they would consider adding a charge of racketeering to one of the cases which would be a level 2 felony. He was supposed to decide by the time arraignment occurred, but Deputy District Attorney Tom Stanton who was not present for arraignment says he doesn’t know at this point if the offer has been accepted. He says the defense had requested more time and Stanton thought the arraignment would be continued. At this point, the decision on whether the racketeering charge will be added to one of the cases had not been made.
In the first case, Adams charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute drugs and two counts of no tax stamp. This case goes back to October 18, 2012.
He also faces charges of possession of marijuana with a prior conviction and criminal possession of a firearm, a 45-caliber handgun. This case goes back to March 28, 2013.
The next case has just one charge, that being aggravated failure to appear for the case just mentioned. The state says he failed to surrender within 30-days of a bond forfeiture in the case. This goes back to April 6, 2013.
The next case charged Adams with possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession or morphine, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to package drugs, criminal possession of a firearm, a shotgun. He’s also charged with possession of a shotgun with a barrel less then 18” long, interference with law enforcement, defacing identification marks on a firearm and possession of personal use drug paraphernalia. These crimes allegedly occurring on October 28, 2013. Its this case, the state would consider amending the complaint adding that racketeering charge.
The final case has Adams charges him with possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to package drugs, possession of marijuana with a prior conviction and personal use drug paraphernalia. This case goes to back to October 29, 2013.
Adams has a prior conviction for possession of drugs going back to 2009.