SALISBURY — Three habitual felons and two drug traffickers were convicted this week in Rowan County Criminal Superior Court.

Selina Tangle Locklear of Salisbury was convicted of two counts of felony possession of heroin, felony possession of cocaine, and driving while impaired.

District Attorney Brandy Cook said Locklear admitted her status as a habitual felon and Judge Anna Mills Wagoner sentenced Locklear to a minimum of 17 months to a maximum of 33 months in prison.

On May 4, a Spencer police officer saw a black Kia stop in the middle of the street, according to the District Attorney’s Office. As the officer got closer, he saw that the driver, later identified as Locklear, was unconscious. The vehicle was running with Locklear’s foot on the brake pedal.

The officer found a crack pipe and two hypodermic needles in the center console of the vehicle, along with a spoon and plastic bag with a white rock underneath Locklear’s leg.

On Oct. 21, a detective with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office saw Locklear sitting against a light pole. The detective was unable to tell whether she needed medical assistance. As the detective approached, Locklear started to walk toward him. She told the officer she had a syringe and crack pipe in her purse, along with heroin.

Locklear was previously convicted of felony possession of methamphetamine, felony breaking and entering, and felony attempted larceny, among other convictions.

Cook said if her office had not prosecuted Locklear as a habitual felon, she could have received as little as four to 14 months in prison with a probationary sentence.

Shawn Dail Jones of Salisbury was convicted of two counts of felony possession with intent to sell cocaine and admitted his status as a habitual felon. Judge Wagoner sentenced Jones to a minimum of 77 months to a maximum of 105 months in prison.

On Sept. 15 and Sept. 21, 2016, Jones sold crack cocaine to an undercover informant for $40, according to the DA’s office. Jones had previously been convicted of felony selling cocaine, felony possession of cocaine, and felony selling a counterfeit controlled substance, among other convictions.

Anthony Wayne Godbey of Salisbury was convicted of two counts of felony larceny by removing an anti-theft device, felony attempted possession of a firearm by a felon, and felony obtaining property by false pretenses. Godbey admitted his status as a habitual felon and Judge Wagoner sentenced him to a minimum of 72 months to a maximum of 99 months in prison.

On July 19, deputies were told that Godbey had a stolen shotgun. Through the investigation, deputies found the gun. The next day, officers with the Salisbury Police Department responded to call at Kohl’s department store. A loss prevention officer said a white man, later identified as Godbey, had stolen a TV and used a knife to disable the anti-theft device.

On Dec. 31, police officers again responded to Kohl’s. A loss prevention officer said a white man, later identified as Godbey, and a white woman were concealing items in a coat and a purse. The loss prevention officer said anti-theft devices had been removed from a hair straightener, a watch and earrings.

On Jan. 23, deputies with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a theft of motor fuel at Pop’s Country Store. The witness told deputies that Godbey stole $10 worth of gas using a fraudulent card.

Godbey was previously convicted of felony escape from state prison, felony fleeing to elude arrest, and felony theft of a motor vehicle, among other convictions.

Justin Drew Peterson of Salisbury was convicted of six counts of felony trafficking in opium or heroin. Judge Wagoner sentenced him to a minimum of 70 months to a maximum of 93 months in prison, along with a mandatory fine of $50,000.

In August 2016, an undercover detective purchased various quantities of heroin from Peterson.

Devin Allen Kelly of Salisbury was convicted of trafficking in opium or heroin, felony possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine, and two counts of felony possession with intent to sell a Schedule I controlled substance. Judge Wagoner sentenced Kelly to a minimum of 70 months to a maximum of 93 months in prison, along with a mandatory fine of $50,000.

Last May, a Rowan County Sheriff’s Office undercover detective purchased several grams of heroin from Kelly in exchange for money, according to the DA’s office. On June 30, Kelly was arrested and detectives found cocaine in his pocket.

DA Cook said she appreciates the joint effort by Assistant District Attorneys Jennifer Greene and Barrett Poppler, along with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, Spencer Police Department, and Salisbury Police Department in removing these repeat offenders from the community with lengthy prison sentences.