Convicted drug dealer jailed again
Published 12:00 am Thursday, February 4, 2010
Less than two days after residents of Enchanted Hills gathered to tell city police about drug activity and burglaries in their neighborhood, a convicted felon was arrested there this morning.
Derrick Dewayne Funches, 36, was taken to the Vicksburg Police Department this morning from his girlfriend’s home at 110 Sherwood Drive, said Chief Walter Armstrong. No drugs were found, investigator Jeff Merritt said, but $500 and scales used for measuring drugs were confiscated.
Sherwood is a small street off Shady Lane, one of the main streets in the subdivision off Porters Chapel Road north of the sprawling Engineer and Research Development Center.
Funches was charged with sale of cocaine, the same charge for which he was convicted in 2005 and for which he served three years in state prison, Armstrong said.
Complaints from area residents led officials to Funches, the chief said.
After his previous conviction, with sentencing on Dec. 1, 2005, Funches was ordered to serve six years at the Mississippi Department of Corrections with three years to serve followed by five years of post-release supervision, Armstrong said.
A year ago in January, following his release from prison, Funches was indicted by the Warren County grand jury for possession of cocaine and possession of a weapon by a felon, Armstrong said.
This time, county officials hope a judge will agree to allow them to hold Funches in custody until his trial on the weapons and possession charges, scheduled for March 1, Warren County District Attorney Ricky Smith said.
“The fact he’s back selling contradicts the reason he’s out on bond,” said Smith.
Officials could move to revoke Funches’ bond, Smith said.
“He’s looking at being revoked and having to spend the remaining three years in prison,” said Smith.
Today’s arrest follows a Neighborhood Watch meeting on Monday night of about 40 Enchanted Hills residents who complained of drug activity, break-ins, trash and speeding in the area.
The subdivision of more than 100 homes includes Moonmist, Enchanted and Starlight drives, as well as Shady Lane and Sherwood Drive.
Contact Tish Butts at tbutts@vicksburgpost.com