ROCKINGHAM — A Rockingham man arrested for assaulting a female was additionally charged with possessing opiates in the Richmond County Jail.

Rodney Lewis Morrison, 40, of Elaine Avenue is charged with one felony count of possession of a controlled substance while on jail premises, and one misdemeanor count each of domestic criminal trespassing, assault on a female and communicating threats.

On Jan. 20, Morrison allegedly entered or remained at a residence after being told to leave by a female occupant. At the time, Morrison was living separately from the victim after previously living together, warrants state. Warrants further allege that Morrison grabbed the woman on the arm and told her that he would “f*** her up.”

Once arrested by sheriff’s deputies and taken to the Richmond County Jail, Morrison was allegedly found in possession of 10, 8mg suboxone strips. Suboxone is used to treat opiate addiction, but can also be habit forming. The drug binds to the same brain receptors as opiates but is not itself an opiate, according to The Recovery Village.

Morrison was placed under a $10,000 secured bond for the felony charge, but is being held without bond for the misdemeanor charges. Following a review of his criminal history, a judge ordered Morrison not to contact the victim, nor go to her home, business, school, or place of employment. He can only go to the victim’s home under the supervision of a Richmond County Sheriff’s Deputy.

A firearm prohibition notice was also given at Morrison’s initial hearing, court documents show.

Morrison is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 3 for the misdemeanor charges and Feb. 6 for the felony charge.

Records with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety show that Morrison has been convicted of three other misdemeanor counts of assault on a female. The first conviction came in July 2007, the second in November 2007, and the third in February 2012. He served a month in prison for the November 2007 assault on a female conviction, and two months following a conviction on one misdemeanor count of DWI Level 4, state records show.

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Gavin Stone

News Editor

Reach Gavin Stone at 910-817-2673 or [email protected].