A 19-year-old James City County man pleaded guilty Monday to a charge of possession with intent to sell more than a half ounce and less than five pounds of marijuana.
Michael A. Pace was arrested May 17 after a confidential informant gave members of the Tri-Rivers Drug Task Force information that led to a search warrant for Pace’s family’s home in the Drummond Field subdivision, Williamsburg-James City County Commonwealth’s Attorney Nate Green said Monday.
Green said members of the task force recovered marijuana and several items believed to be used in the packaging and sale of the drug, including a digital scale and plastic baggies. Pace was not present when the search began, Green said, but arrived while it was underway and was taken into custody for questioning.
Green said investigators asked “point-blank if it was his and he said ‘yes’,” referring to the marijuana discovered in a room above the home’s garage.
Part of the plea agreement is for the commonwealth to drop other charges, including cultivating marijuana for sale and possession of a firearm while in possession of more than one pound of marijuana. According to a press release issued at the time of Pace’s arrest, police seized a shotgun along with about 2.5 pounds of marijuana and a three-foot-tall marijuana plant.
The estimated street value of the marijuana recovered was about $25,000, police said at the time. Green said Monday in Williamsburg-James City County Circuit Court that Pace sold “low-end” marijuana for $100 per ounce and “high-end” marijuana for $400 per ounce.
Pace, who was indicted by a grand jury in September, has been free on a $2,500 secure bond. His sentencing is scheduled before Circuit Court Judge Michael McGinty for Jan. 9, 2013.
The task force is made up of seven agencies in six jurisdictions, which includes the Virginia State Police, James City County Police Department, York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office, Poquoson Police Department, Gloucester County Sheriff’s Office, Mathews County Sheriff’s Office, and the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office.
