We have more information on the arrests of two Lexington men on heroin charges in Catawba County. We previously reported on the arrests of 54-year-old Barry John Hunter and 32-year-old Austin Hayes Wood on Thursday (September 14). Hunter is charged with felony counts of trafficking opium or heroin, possession with intent to sell and deliver schedule II controlled substance, manufacture, sell, deliver or possess controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school, possession with intent to sell and deliver heroin, and maintain a vehicle, dwelling, or place for a controlled substance. Hunter is also charged with misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Wood is charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver heroin, and manufacture, sell, deliver or possess controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school along with a misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

On Wednesday (September 13) Investigators with the Catawba County Sheriff's Office Drug Task Force received two anonymous tips regarding narcotics in a vehicle. The Dodge Ram Pickup was located in the parking lot of Walmart Supercenter in Conover. According to a news release, the vehicle was searched and Investigators found more than 17 grams of heroin, more than 13 grams of methamphetamine, two grams of cocaine, five dosage units of MDMA, more than $400 in cash, and a Titan .25 caliber handgun. Both suspects were detained in the Catawba County Detention Facility, Hunter under $70,000 secured bond, Wood's bond was set at $25,000 secured. They both had first court appearances Thursday, they are scheduled to make their next District Court appearances on October 5.

In an unrelated incident the Drug Task Force arrested 44-year-old Shawndale La'mar Barnett aka "New York" "Shaw" of Charlotte following an investigation into the trafficking of heroin from the Charlotte area into Catawba County. Barnett is believed to be a high level heroin trafficker in the Catawba County area. He's charged with felony counts of trafficking opium or heroin, and maintain a vehicle, dwelling, or place to keep controlled substance, along with a misdemeanor count of carrying a concealed gun. He was placed in the Catawba County Detention Facility under $50,000 secured bond. He was scheduled to appear in District Court Thursday.

Task Force Investigators found Barnett in the parking lot of the Murphy Gas Station in Conover near the Walmart Supercenter. Barnett was taken into custody without incident. During a search of the vehicle Barnett was driving, officers found more than 14 grams of heroin, more than $400 in cash, and a Taurus handgun.

The investigation is continuing and more arrests are expected.

42-year-old Rodriguez Lavan of Hickory was sentenced to serve four-to-six years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon.  He was also sentenced as an habitual felon.  The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Gregory R. Hayes in Catawba County Superior Court yesterday (September 13).  The case went to trial, but the defendant chose to enter a guilty plea after all evidence had been presented.

The habitual felony designation was applied as the result of Lavan’s prior felony convictions for possession of a schedule II controlled substance (August 1993), possession of cocaine (April 1996) and possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine (June 1999), all in Catawba County.

The firearms charge was filed when Hickory Police Investigators reviewed video surveillance from an incident in January 2015 at a Hickory convenience store.  The video showed the defendant to be a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.  Rodriguez Lavan was arrested at the same store about three hours later.  

Anthony Horton investigated the case for Hickory Police Department.  Chad Smith handled the prosecution for the District Attorney’s Office, with assistance from Jonathan Greer.