TERRICA HENDRIX
Reporter
NASHVILLE – A
jury found an Umpire
man guilty of four drug
charges and sentenced
him to 13 years in prison.
On Tuesday, a Howard
County jury found
Gary Brian Cogburn,
39, guilty of the following
charges in less than 40 minutes:
Count 1: Manufacturing of marijuana
– one year in the Arkansas Department
of Correction with a $3,000 fine;
Count 2: Possession of a controlled
substance (marijuana) – one year in ADC
with a $3,000 fine;
Count 3: Possession of drug paraphernalia
– one year in ADC with a $3,000 fine;
Count 4: Simultaneous possession of
drugs and firearms – 10 years in ADC and
no fine.
The sentence is to be served consecutively
and Cogburn was given credit for 12
days of jail time served.
According to a press release issued by
Sheriff Bryan McJunkins, stated that Cogburn
was arrested on April 16, at his home
in Umpire. “The Arkansas State Police, the
South Central Drug Task Force, and the
Howard County Sheriff’s Office executed a
search warrant at Cogburn’s home where
they seized over 50 marijuana plants.
There were approximately 30 plants growing
inside the home in containers with
‘grow’ lights over the plants. This is what
law enforcement refers to as an ‘indoor
grow.’ Soil, fertilizer, containers, water,
and lights were being used to produce
the marijuana from seeds. Officers found
approximately 20 more plants growing
outside of the house. Also seized were
approximately four pounds of processed
marijuana in plastic zip-lock bags and
trash bags; along with two sets of scales
used to measure/weigh drugs, and several
firearms, (both long guns and handguns).
Typically these plants are capable of
producing approximately one pound of
processed marijuana per plant.”
Jason Barrett, a central Arkansas attorney,
represented the State of Arkansas as
a special prosecutor in this case. Cogburn
was represented by Texarkana-based
attorney Jeff Harrelson. The Honorable
Charles A. Yeargan presided over the trial.
