SALISBURY — Two habitual felons were convicted in Rowan County Criminal Superior Court last week.

Rickey Wayne Carroll of Rockwell was convicted of felony larceny, felony breaking and entering, and felony possession of a Schedule II controlled substance. He admitted his status as a habitual felon, and Judge Anna Mills Wagoner sentenced him to a minimum of 58 months to a maximum of 82 months in prison.

On March 6, 2018, deputies with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office were conducting a license checkpoint on U.S. 29 in China Grove. Carroll was a passenger in a vehicle that pulled up to the checkpoint.

Deputies determined that no one in the vehicle had a valid driver’s license, so the vehicle would be towed. In a search of the vehicle, deputies found smoking devices and cocaine.

On Aug. 23, 2018, deputies responded to a vehicle theft on N.C. 152. Deputies received information that the vehicle had been found in Rockwell. They were told that a white man had broken into a vehicle and that Carroll was found asleep in it. The keys to the first stolen vehicle also were found, and that vehicle was found a few blocks away.

Carroll has previous convictions for felony second-degree burglary, felony breaking and entering a motor vehicle, and felony larceny, among others.

Michael Justin Cooper of Kannapolis was convicted of two counts of felony selling cocaine; two counts of felony possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine; felony possession with intent to sell and deliver heroin; and felony maintaining a vehicle or dwelling to deal in controlled substance.

Cooper admitted his status as a habitual felon, and Judge Wagoner sentenced him to a minimum of 101 months to a maximum of 134 months in prison.

On June 28, 2017, the Kannapolis Police Department used an informant to buy heroin and cocaine from Cooper for $130. On June 30, 2017, an informant bought heroin from Cooper for $150. On July 10, 2017, a search of Cooper’s residence on Forrest Avenue turned up marijuana, drug paraphernalia, cocaine, heroin and more than $2,600 in cash.

Cooper has previous convictions for felony delivery of a Schedule I controlled substance and felony possession of cocaine, among others.

Rowan County District Attorney Brandy Cook said she appreciates the effort of Assistant District attorneys Tim Gould and Ryan Sutton, along with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office and the Kannapolis Police Department, in removing repeat offenders from our community with lengthy prison sentences.