Three adults and three juveniles were aboard a pickup truck stopped in Stone County Saturday night, leading to two arrests and numerous charges.The officer making the traffic stop reported the strong odor of spray paint coming from the vehicle. He noticed the truck bed was red and later detected black spray paint on the headlights and windshield, with the door jams still red.According to the probable cause affidavit, after observing the lack of a license plate, the vehicle was stopped near the intersection of State Highway 5 South and Town and Country Road.
The driver was identified as 38-year-old Jermyn Autro Nowden and the front seat passenger as 40-year-old Shunda Renee Franklin, both of Pine Bluff. Rear seat passengers were identified as a 19-year-old and three juveniles, ranging in age from 6 to 17.
Nowden produced an expired proof of insurance, a bill of sale with no date of purchase and was unable to provide a registration for the vehicle. A check with the Arkansas Crime Information Center database indicated he was wanted by probation and parole. Franklin was wanted out of another county that would not extradite.
A search of the vehicle reportedly led to substances field testing positive for methamphetamine, marijuana and cocaine, six Schedule 4 controlled substances in pill form, a .38 special revolver reported stolen out of Baxter County, a 9 mm handgun, two computer monitors and a TV. Franklin was reportedly holding a box containing a computer monitor, keyboard and mouse.
The loaded handgun was located in a holster under the cup holder in the center console to the right of Nowden, who has been convicted of theft by receiving, residential burglary, theft of property and possession of meth or cocaine with purpose to deliver.
He and Franklin are charged with multiple drug offenses, as well as a single weapon charge. She also faces a theft by receiving charge. Nowden was also charged as a habitual offender.
Nowden’s bond is set at $10,000, while Franklin’s is at $20,000.
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