FREDERICKSBURG, VA — A Ruther Glen woman with a recent felony drug conviction is facing new narcotics charges after deputies found suspected drugs during a traffic stop Saturday night in Stafford County, according to the Stafford County Sheriff's Office and court records.
A deputy spotted a suspicious vehicle at around 9 p.m. on Warrenton Road displaying a license plate registered to a different vehicle, according to the sheriff's office.
The deputy determined the vehicle's registered owner did not have a valid driver's license. The driver told authorities the vehicle had been purchased from a relative and was in the process of being re-registered. The driver also acknowledged having a restricted driver's license. Deputies further discovered the vehicle's inspection sticker belonged to a second, different vehicle.
Additional deputies responded to the scene, and a sheriff's office K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics near the vehicle. Deputies said they found suspected narcotics on the front passenger-side floorboard.
The passenger, identified as Michelle Dawn Bentley, 39, of Ruther Glen, was arrested after deputies also found drug paraphernalia during a search, authorities said.
Bentley was charged with felony possession of a Schedule I or II controlled substance and misdemeanor unauthorized possession of drug paraphernalia. She was held at Rappahannock Regional Jail on a secured bond, according to the sheriff's office.
Also See ...
Court records show Bentley's arraignment on both charges is scheduled for Aug. 6 in Stafford County General District Court. The drug possession charge is a Class 5 felony, while the paraphernalia charge is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
The driver, Joey Finney Jr., 42, of Woodford, was issued a summons for improper registration. No additional charges were announced.
The new charges come less than six months after Bentley pleaded guilty in Fredericksburg Circuit Court to a separate felony charge of possessing a Schedule I or II controlled substance stemming from a Dec. 10, 2024, offense. She was sentenced Jan. 28 to five years in prison, with four years and 10 months suspended, leaving an active sentence of two months. She also pleaded guilty the same day to driving after forfeiture of her driver's license and received a 12-month jail sentence with 10 months suspended. Both sentences were ordered to run consecutively.
Court records also show Bentley has two probation violation cases that remain pending in King George Circuit Court. Those cases are scheduled for a status hearing on Sept. 8 after multiple continuances.
Under Virginia law, the new felony drug possession charge carries a potential sentence of one to 10 years in prison if convicted, although a judge or jury may instead impose up to 12 months in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. The paraphernalia charge carries a maximum penalty of 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Fredericksburg, VA Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.