HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 28-year-old Wichita man bound over for trial in a one-year-old case was arraigned Monday on the charges where he entered “not guilty” pleas.
Demarcus Phillips Sr. is charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and a misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana with a prior conviction.
In a separate case, he’s charged with aggravated failure to appear for failing to appear for a prior court hearing. He showed up late for the hearing Monday, but was arraigned once he did.
The drug case goes back to Jan. 18 when Reno County Drug Unit detectives observed a vehicle pulling into the back of a residence in the 1300 block of East 3rd. Officers approached the vehicle and allege that they could smell a strong odor of marijuana. 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. The state believes the marijuana belonged to Phillips.
Phillips has prior convictions for drug offenses in Sedgwick County and a possession with intent to sell conviction out of Saline County.
His case will now move to a possible trial later this year.