While checking in a Soldotna man following his arrest for possession of heroin, Wildwood Pretrial Facility staff discovered more of the drug hidden in one of his socks.
Kenai police arrested Phillip Duane Newsome, 25, during a traffic stop at approximately 10:56 p.m. March 27 on the Kenai Spur Highway. Kenai police officer Sarah Herrin and Sgt. Jay Sjogren discovered Newsome, the passenger of the vehicle, was on probation and called his probation officer, according to the police affidavit.
Kenai probation officer Alicia Tarries requested a search of Newsome and found in his possession were “two-dime baggies containing a brown tar-like substance” inside a package of cigarettes, according to the report.
Newsome was riding in a tan 1984 Olds Cutlass traveling eastbound near South Spruce Street. Police stopped the vehicle for having a broken headlight, according to the report.
Sjogren transported Newsome to Wildwood on the charge of misconduct involving a controlled substance in the fourth-degree. During the remand process, staff at Wildwood found two small pieces of heroin, wrapped in a sandwich bag which was hidden in one of Newsome’s socks, while he turned in his clothing, according to the affidavit. A charge of promoting contraband in the first-degree was added to his arresting offence.
Sjogren conducted a field test of the suspected heroin from the initial contact and from what the correctional staff found and both tests were presumptive positive for heroin, according to the report.
On Friday, a Kenai Grand Jury indicted Newsome on one count of misconduct involving a controlled substance in the fourth-degree and one count of promoting contraband in the first-degree. Both are class C Felonies, which carry a maximum of five years in prison and a fine up to $50,000.
His latest arrest resulted in his third parole violation. According to court records, Newsome is on a five-year probation for a 2009 felony conviction for misconduct of a controlled substance. In 2012, Newsome also pled guilty to being a felon in possession of weapons, a class C Felony.
Newsome’s next court date is today at 2:30 p.m. at the Kenai Courthouse. He is currently jailed at Wildwood.
Reach Dan Balmer at daniel.balmer@peninsulaclarion.com.
