HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The state is seeking a bond forfeiture for a 28-year-old Wichita man arrested back in January for being in possession of a large quantity of high-grade marijuana here in Hutchinson.
Demarcus Phillips Sr. is charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of marijuana with a prior conviction.
He apparently bonded out, but has failed to show in court in this case. Deputy District Attorney Tom Stanton was before Judge Joe McCarville seeking the forfeiture. Apparently, the judge had been told that Phillips would appear last week, but that didn’t happen. The bonding company asked for more time, but the judge said if he didn’t appear by 4:45 p.m. Monday, the bonding company would be liable to pay the $7,500 bond.
The case itself started on Jan. 18 when Reno County Drug Unit detectives observed a vehicle pull into the back of a residence in the 1300 block of East 3rd. They saw a white male walk up to the driver’s side window and meet with the black male driving. Officers then approached the vehicle and allege that they could smell a strong odor of marijuana. The white male was placed in handcuffs and two black males in the vehicle were also placed in handcuffs. Detectives say behind the driver’s seat was an Olive Garden bag that contained four aluminum pans each containing gallon size zip-close bags of marijuana. They say the bags contained approximately two pounds of what they called the high-grade stuff. They also found three previously rolled marijuana cigarettes in the vehicle.
He could face an additional charge of aggravated failure to appear.
Phillips has prior convictions for drug offenses in Sedgwick County and a possession with intent to sell conviction out of Saline County.
The Reno County case is still pending a preliminary hearing.