The Shadow
COVINGTON, Va. (VR) – On May 23, in the Alleghany County Circuit Court, Cody William Prior, 28, of Covington, was sentenced to 20 years in prison suspended after serving an active sentence of 12 years for felony charges involving drugs and an AR-15-style rifle.
Prior pled guilty, according to a plea agreement, to one count of possessing over 10 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and one count of possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony. Each crime occurred on a separate offense date. Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott Meyer summarized the evidence for the court.
On November 29, 2022, Alleghany County Sheriff’s deputies found Prior’s vehicle partially blocking a lane of travel on Valley Ridge Road with the engine running while Prior appeared to be asleep behind the wheel with the gearshift in reverse. After the narcotics dog alerted, deputies searched Prior’s car and recovered more than 450 grams of methamphetamine, over $1,000 cash, numerous plastic baggies commonly used for drug distribution, brass knuckles and a holster.
Earlier, on May 16, 2022, Alleghany County Sheriff’s Deputies made a traffic stop on Prior’s vehicle which was searched after the dog alerted to the presence of narcotics. Deputies recovered a pipe with methamphetamine residue and a disassembled AR-15-style rifle. Prior, a previously convicted felon, was prohibited by law from possessing any firearm.
After Prior serves his active 12-year sentence he will be placed on active supervised probation for three years. He is court-ordered to be of good behavior for 10 years.
