TRAFFIC STOP LEADS TO 25-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE FOR DUNCAN MAN

A Wellford man received a 25-year prison sentence today after he was found guilty of possessing nearly 150 grams of cocaine during a traffic stop. Courtney D. Lyles, 27, was found guilty of trafficking cocaine at the conclusion of a two-day jury trial. He will serve 85 percent of the prison sentence before he is eligible for release.

The traffic stop occurred Feb. 12, 2005 on Finch Road near Walnut Street. A Duncan police officer stopped Lyles’ Chevrolet Tahoe for having a defective tag light and a license plate that wasn’t illuminated. The officer smelled burnt marijuana when he spoke with Lyles. The officer asked Lyles to get out of the car and he searched the vehicle. A baggie containing 6 grams of marijuana was found in plain view between the front seats of the car. The cocaine, some rolling papers and some cash were found on Mr. Lyles’ body.

Today’s verdict marked Lyles’ 6th drug conviction in the past 11 years.

“Courtney Lyles was a serious problem and with the help of the Duncan Police Department, we fixed it for a long time,” Assistant Solicitor Sarah Ganss said.