Kelley was charged with felonies in May after police found 75 pounds of marijuana in the trunk of the rental car he was driving during a traffic stop.
"My client was by no means the only one involved," said James V. Anthenelli, Kelley's lawyer, saying the Infiniti Kelley drove was rented by Kelley's father, Modis L. Chandler, who was in the car when police stopped the vehicle for speeding.
Anthenelli said he was "very pleased" with Circuit Court Judge Richard R. Bloxom's decision to suspend four years of Kelley's five-year sentence, which will be served in the Worcester County Detention Center.
"This is my client's first criminal offense," said Anthenelli. He presented tax return records to the court, showing Kelley had a steady income in 2007 and 2008 until the "wheels fell off the bus" after he became unemployed.
Kelley, 24, and Chandler, 40, both of Newport News, Va., were traveling south on Route 113 near Old Virginia Road when they were stopped for speeding.
Maryland State Police called in a K-9 unit, which alerted police to the trunk of the car, where they found 75 pounds of marijuana in two gym bags, according to court records.
Worcester County Assistant State's Attorney Julie Guyer presented the case in front of Bloxom on Thursday. She declined to comment on Kelley's sentencing because charges against Chandler are still pending.
Chandler, who is charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance with the intent to distribute, possession of marijuana and possession of a large amount of marijuana with intent to distribute, is scheduled to attend a criminal motions hearing on Jan. 7 followed by a jury trial on Jan. 12.
POCOMOKE CITY — Sheriff's deputies arrested two 18-year-olds in the Pocomoke City area on charges of illegal handgun possession.One suspect, David Dewayne Dickerson, 18, of Pocomoke, had a loaded revolver in his pants pocket when he stepped out of a vehicle that was the subject of a traffic stop, police said.
Sheriff's deputies had stopped the vehicle in which Dickerson was a passenger because they saw another man wanted on an arrest warrant for handgun possession in the car. That man, Martel Blake, 18, of Pocomoke City, was also arrested at the scene, police said.
Police said Blake had been wanted by police and had been spotted by Pocomoke City police earlier in the day, but had eluded capture. When sheriff's deputies saw Blake's vehicle on Buck Harbor Road, the Sheriff's Office said, they stopped the car and arrested both men.
A handgun was found in a vehicle at a traffic stop on Route 113 in Newark, Maryland. The trooper took the gun and found it to be loaded. They also found that William Wilson Jr.—a 21-year old from Temperanceville, Virginia was wanted on an outstanding bench warrant for driving with a suspended license.CRIMINAL PRESS RELEASE:
Time: 09/17/2010 @ 2300 hours
Case #: 10-96-006203
Location: US Rt. 113 @ Langmaid Rd. Newark, Worcester County, MD
Crime: Handgun in vehicle, outstanding arrest warrant
Victim: State of Maryland
Accused: William Harrison Wilson Jr. 21 yoa from Temperanceville, VA
Narrative: On the above date and time a Trooper from the Berlin Barrack conducted a traffic stop on a 2003 Mazda driven
by the accused for passing in a no passing zone. A check of the accused through the District Court revealed he was
wanted on an outstanding bench warrant for driving with a suspended license. While placing the accused under arrest for the outstanding warrant the Trooper observed in plain view the barrel of a firearm protruding from underneath the driver’s floor mat. The Trooper retrieved the firearm and found it to be a loaded .32 caliber Colt revolver. The Trooper took custody of the above firearm. The accused did not have a handgun permit or any documentation for the firearm and was charged with carrying a handgun in a vehicle. The accused was taken before a District Court Commissioner for the warrant and handgun charges.
Disposition: Taken before District Court Commissioner
Investigating Trooper(s): TFC Sigmund #4783
Approving Duty Officer: CPL. Chatfield Date: 09/18/2010
Commander: Lt. E.W. Starner
Assistant Commander: 1/Sgt. D. Sharp
