Steven Jermaine Jones (Photo courtesy Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail)
A man who was facing a jury trial for a felony distribution of marijuana charge pleaded guilty Monday.
Steven Jermaine Jones, 29, was arrested in March after being pulled over for a broken brake light, according to a police report.
When a James City County Police officer pulled him over around 5:20 a.m. at the entrance of Chisel Run, the officer noticed a “strong odor of marijuana” coming from the vehicle, said Williamsburg-James City County Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Joshua DeFord.
The officer then found a bag with what appeared to be marijuana and a digital scale in Jones’ vehicle, DeFord said.
Jones admitted he was in possession of marijuana and had been selling it and giving it away, according to a police report. Jones told the officer he picked up about 4 ounces of the plant once a week and had already sold about half an ounce of that week’s batch, according to a criminal complaint filed against Jones.
The officer weighed the suspected bag of marijuana on the digital scale, which showed Jones was allegedly in possession of about 5.35 ounces.
Jones pleaded not guilty in November and asked for his case to be heard by a jury. After entering a guilty plea Monday, Jones will be sentenced at 10 a.m. Jan. 28.
Jones was convicted of distributing marijuana in 2008 and 2014, according to Williamsburg-James City County Circuit Court records.
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