Man guilty, other cases to be heard

By Erin McGrath

Published: November 12, 2008

A Lovingston man was found guilty on Nov. 5 in the Nelson County General District Court of possession of less than a half-ounce of marijuana with intent to distribute, a case that stemmed from an August arrest in which Nelson County sheriff’s deputies found more than a pound of suspected methamphetamine at his residence.

Charles W. Spencer III, 35, is also charged with possession with intent to manufacture a Schedule 1 or Schedule 2 substance, eluding or endangering police and possession of a firearm with a Schedule 1 or Schedule 2 substance. All these charges are felonies and were certified to a grand jury.

Two other charges were not prosecuted.

Lt. R.W. Brooks of the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office testified on Nov. 5 that a search warrant for Spencer’s residence was the culmination of a six-month investigation.

Deputies served the search warrant Aug. 7. Brooks said that when he arrived at the residence in an unmarked vehicle with three other deputies, they found Spencer behind the wheel of a vehicle.

The deputies exited their car and ordered Spencer out of his vehicle, Brooks said. Brooks testified that Spencer then took off at a high speed, nearly hitting another deputy.

“He caught gravel and spun,” Brooks said of Spencer.

Spencer didn’t travel far before deputies caught up with him. Brooks said that when they searched Spencer, they found he had a set of keys that opened a black safe inside the residence, which contained drugs.

Along with the methamphetamine, they found marijuana, seven firearms and more than $500 in cash, Brooks testified.

A grand jury will hear the charges against Spencer on Nov. 25.