By Ray King
A Bradley County man serving a 40-year prison sentence for drug and weapons charges failed to convince the Arkansas Court of Appeals that there was not enough evidence to convict him.
Frederick Jabbar Stallings, 55, was convicted of multiple felony charges following a jury trial on May 9, 2024.
At that trial, 10th Judicial District Drug Task Force agents testified that Stallings was arrested after they served a search warrant who was selling drugs from her residence, A Glock handgun and three bags containing suspected methamphetamine were found in a lunchbox in the room where Stallings was found.
Investigators also found a silver box containing a Taurus handgun and loaded magazine and a large amount of methamphetamine and digital scales.
Stallings testified that he did not live with the person whose house was searched but had been there multiple times because they were in a sexual relationship. He denied ownership of the drugs, guns and paraphernalia but admitted he had bought methamphetamine from her in the past.
On appeal he argued that the state failed to prove that he constructively possessed the items found in the house.
Appeals Court Judge Waymond Brown wrote that “here, the jury was presented sufficient evidence from which it could link Stallings to the contraband, methamphetamine, paraphernalia, and firearms, found in close proximity to hm, some in plain view.
Stallings is serving his sentence in the Delta Regional Unit at Dermott and will be eligible to apply for parole in December 2049.
