Jack County man receives 99-year sentence in drug case

A Parker County jury convicted a 40-year-old Jack County man of possessing about 10 grams of crystal methamphetamine with intent to deliver it and sentenced him to 99 years in prison in a trial that concluded Wednesday in the 415th District Court in Weatherford.

Johnny Todd Preston’s trial began Jan. 29 with testimony from a Springtown Police officer, who said that he pulled over a car in which Preston was a passenger for driving erratically in the early morning hours of December 30, 2011. The officer said that when he spoke with the driver, Lesha Hoadley, he noticed signs indicating she might be under the influence of drugs.

After further investigation, the officer determined that he had probable cause to search the car. During the search, Hoadley returned to the vehicle and attempted to conceal a glass pipe from his view. The officer removed Hoadley and Preston from the vehicle and completed a search yielding just under 10 grams of methamphetamine in the driver’s side door pocket and a quarter gram of methamphetamine, a digital scale and numerous small plastic baggies in a small black case with the name “Johnny Todd” written on it located in a coat that was on Preston’s lap at the beginning of the traffic stop.

Although Hoadley claimed all of the methamphetamine on the roadside, the officer testified that he arrested both occupants for jointly possessing the methamphetamine.

Hoadley took the witness stand and testified that she had driven Preston from Jack County to Fort Worth so that Preston could purchase methamphetamine from his supplier. She told jurors that at the time of the traffic stop, she requested Preston to hand her the methamphetamine because of her romantic relationship with Preston and because she did not have a criminal history.

Assistant District Attorneys Abigail Placke and Robert DuBoise introduced evidence from a United States Drug Enforcement Agent that Preston had been purchasing methamphetamine from a Metroplex supplier that was under investigation and that the scales and baggies found in the black case were items commonly used in the distribution of methamphetamine.

Jurors deliberated for about 25 minutes Wednesday morning before finding Preston guilty.

In the punishment phase of the trial, prosecutors introduced evidence showing that Preston had four prior felony convictions. Those convictions included a 30-year sentence for possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver, a 20-year sentence for felon in possession of a firearm, both in 2002, as well as two year sentences for burglary of a building and engaging in organized criminal activity in the 1990’s.

The federal agent told jurors during the punishment phase that he previously interviewed Preston in 2012 and Preston admitted that he trafficked approximately three to four pounds of methamphetamine from his Metroplex supplier to Jack and Young counties during the last half of 2011.

Prosecutors also called a Security Threat Group analyst from the Texas prison system, who told jurors that Preston’s numerous tattoos included some indicative of his affinity with white supremacist prison gangs. The analyst described the types of crimes commonly committed by those organizations both inside and outside Texas prisons.

In closing arguments on Tuesday afternoon, Placke pointed out to jurors that by the age of 40, Preston had amassed sentences totaling 54 years in prison.

Jurors deliberated for less than 15 minutes before returning with their verdict sentencing Preston to 99 years in prison.

“My office appreciates the strong stand taken by jurors against repeat felons who traffic drugs through our community,” District Attorney Don Schnebly said.

District Judge Graham Quisenberry presided during the trial.

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