By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

ROCKWELL — A Rockwell man who claimed pills found in his car belonged to his girlfriend remains in the Rowan County jail charged with trafficking.

The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office charged Justin Lee Scott Godfrey, 28, who was initially cited with possession of a scheduled II controlled substance. He was later additionally charged with felony trafficking in opium or heroin by possession, felony trafficking in opium or heroin by transportation and felony possession with intent to sell and deliver a scheduled II controlled substance.

Officials said Thursday a deputy stopped a silver Ford sport utility vehicle around 10:30 a.m. for a broken rear taillight. The vehicle passed the officer on Emanuel Church and Eller roads. The vehicle drove down the road and returned to the same area a few minutes later.

The vehicle was stopped and the driver, Justin Godfrey, was asked about the light and gave permission for the officer to search the vehicle. He was given a citation for the broken light. The officer found a pack of Crown cigarettes.

The deputy looked inside and found 10 yellow pills, later identified as hydrocodone.

Godfrey told the deputy the pills were not his and belonged to his girlfriend, Ashley Earnhardt, who was in the car with him and his 4-year-old son. She told the deputy the pills didn’t belong to her, said Capt. John Sifford.

The deputy again asked Godfrey whose pills were in the car. He eventually confessed the pills were his, Sifford said. The first citation he received was for the pills.

The officer later charged Godfrey and weighed the pills, which came to 4.3 grams. Godfrey was charged this time with the felony offenses. The deputy went to the 900 block of Carter Loop Road, Rockwell, where he found Godfrey and served the warrants.

Godfrey was previously convicted of felony marijuana possession and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

Godfrey was issued a $30,000 secured bond.