ROCKINGHAM — An alleged drug dealer is facing more than 20 felony charges after investigators say he sold cocaine and pills to a confidential informant on multiple occasions.
According to arrest warrants, 42-year-old Paul Thomas Bright Morrison, of Oak Avenue in Rockingham, was selling drugs out of a blue single-family home on Safie First Street in East Rockingham.
Morrison allegedly sold a confidential informant 1.1 grams of cocaine on April 24, 1 gram of cocaine on April 26, 0.6 grams of cocaine on April 28, and 0.6 grams of cocaine and 13 oxycodone pills on May 2, warrants show.
He was arrested on May 3 and charged with: eight counts of selling or delivering a Schedule II controlled substance; five counts of possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a Schedule II controlled substance; five counts of maintaining a vehicle, dwelling or place for a controlled substance; one count of trafficking opium or heroin; one count of selling a Schedule II controlled substance; and one count of delivering a Schedule II controlled substance.
Morrison was booked into the Richmond County Jail under a $100,000 secured bond and released on bail May 7, court records show. He also has an attorney.
He is scheduled to appear in court on those charges May 18. Online court records Morrison has another court appearance on June 16 on three counts of resisting a public officer, possession of up to a half-ounce of marijuana and possession of marijuana paraphernalia — all misdemeanors.
There are no records of previous convictions with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety Division of Adult Correction for Morrison with the birth date listed on court records.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
Reach William R. Toler at 910-817-2675 and follow him on Twitter @William_r_toler.