Man posing as pastor arrested after bringing Bible holding drugs to jail: Sheriff

Hope Schreiber
·Writer


A man who posed as a pastor while visiting a North Carolina jail ended up in handcuffs after deputies realized he was actually a drug dealer, authorities say. On top of that, they say his Bible contained Suboxone, a prescription drug used to treat opioid addiction.

On New Year’s Eve, James A. Morman III allegedly posed as a minister at the Scotland County jail in Laurinburg, N.C., according to a Facebook post shared by the Scotland County Detective Division. It appears that even the sheriff was shocked by the boldness of this specific crime.

“Just when you think you have heard and seen it all. A person shows up tonight at the Scotland County Detention Center impersonating a Pastor to visit [an] inmate. In his bible he had concealed narcotics,” Scotland County Sheriff Ralph Kersey wrote. “Yes you can visit and also stay for awhile.”

According to the detectives, a search of the Bible in the 28-year-old’s possession revealed it held Suboxone strips. The prescription drugs, according to DrugFreeVA.org, helps curb opioid “cravings by not providing the same intense highs as other opiates.”

According to the Facebook post, an inmate, Bryson Brown, 28, was also arrested as part of the scheme and will face the same charges as Morman.

“The following individuals were charged with the possession of a controlled substance pursuant to North Carolina Controlled Substance Act, in addition to charged with carrying contraband within a detention facility in the state of North Carolina,” the post read. “Upon investigation an entire sweep of the detention facility was conducted on Monday, December 31, 2018 and a number of items such as illegal substances and their contraband were located. The charges include, “(1) felony possession or controlled substance within a prison or detention facility, (2) Felony delivery of a controlled substance to an inmate, controlled substance schedule III, and (3) misdemeanor simple possession of schedule III.”

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