SALISBURY — A Rowan County man will serve over a year in prison following a habitual felon conviction this week in Rowan Superior Court.

Andre Marese Brown, 34, was convicted of felony possession of cocaine after admitting his status as a habitual felon. Judge Joseph N. Crosswhite sentenced Brown to a minimum of one year and a maximum of two years in prison, a statement said.

On April 7, 2015, Salisbury Police officers observed a black car playing extremely loud music. Officers stopped the car and noticed an odor of marijuana. Brown was identified as the driver. He told the officer someone else had been smoking marijuana and the “smell just got on him.”

Officers asked Brown to exit the car at which time officers noticed a strong smell of marijuana coming from him. Brown ran from the officers but was later caught. While Brown was running, officers noticed he was reaching into his pants.

A K-9 officer located a bag containing crack cocaine in the direction Brown ran, the statement said. Officers noted the bag was dry even though it had just been raining. Officers also found a small amount of marijuana in Brown’s car.

Brown was previously convicted of felony possession of marijuana, felony maintaining a dwelling for controlled substances, and felony crime against nature, among other convictions.

District Attorney Brandy Cook said she appreciated the work of Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Suneson in the prosecution of the case.  Cook also commended the Salisbury Police Department for their thorough investigation.

She said if her office had not prosecuted Brown as a habitual felon, he could have received a suspended sentence with probation.