Report of passed out driver leads to drug arrest

A Williamsburg man, who was found allegedly passed out behind the wheel of a vehicle late last Wednesday evening, is still in jail facing felony drug possession charges.

Everett Leland Young, 44, pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Thursday afternoon to two counts of first-degree possession of a controlled substance, third-degree possession of a controlled substance, marijuana possession, illegal possession of a legend drug and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The incident began when Whitley County Sheriff’s Deputy Joe Prewitt responded to Mt. Ash Road after a caller reported that a man was passed out inside a vehicle that was still running on the roadway, Sheriff Colan Harrell wrote in a release.

According to Young’s arrest citation, Prewitt found Young in the driver’s seat of a vehicle that was blocking the road and he appeared to be passed out.

Prewitt then woke up Young and had him step outside the vehicle.

When Prewitt searched Young, he discovered a pill bottle in his pocket that contained assorted pills, including a pill or pills believed to be Xanax, Methadone and Hydrocodone, according to an arrest citation.

Inside the vehicle’s passenger compartment Prewitt found a bag containing a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana, and a pipe with residue on it. Also located in the vehicle was a bag containing cigars and an empty cigarette package. Inside the package were more pills believed to be Gabapentin, which is a drug used to treat epilepsy, according to the arrest citation.

Sgt. Kirk Mays assisted Prewitt.

During a court hearing Monday morning, Young agreed to waive his right to a preliminary hearing in exchange for a reduced bond.

Judge Fred White amended his bond from a fully secured $7,500 to a $7,500 third-party surety bond or signature bond with the condition Young wear an ankle-monitoring device.

White also ordered Young to appear in Whitley Circuit Court on April 18 to see whether a grand jury has indicted him.
As of about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Young was still in the Whitley County Detention Center, according to the jail’s website.