A Trenton man was convicted by a jury on Tuesday of multiple drug possession charges, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri reported.
According to authorities, on Apr. 17th a Mercer County jury found Markquice Thomas, 32, of Trenton, guilty of two counts of possession of heroin, one count of possession with the intent to distribute and one count of possession with the intent to distribute in a school zone.
Officials said he was found not guilty of possession with the intent to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute in a school zone for heroin found on his person.
Officer Nathan Bolongini of the Trenton Police Department on March 11, 2014, observed Markquice Thomas park a 2005 Mercury Montego on Waylan Alley in Trenton, within 1,000 feet of P.J. Hill Elementary School. At that time, Thomas was wanted for questioning in another matter. Bolongini contacted dispatch and additional officers responded to the area.
Officials said as officers approached Thomas, they ordered him to remove his hands from his jacket pockets. When Thomas removed his hands from his pockets, six glassine packets of heroin fell from his jacket to the ground. Thomas was then taken into custody and officers recovered an additional 10 packets of heroin in his right jacket pocket.
Subsequently, officers obtained a search warrant for the vehicle Thomas was seen operating. A search of the vehicle revealed an additional 500 packets of heroin, Thomas’ New Jersey Department of Corrections identification card and court paperwork in the his name.
Authorities said Thomas is scheduled to be sentenced on June 15. He is extended-term eligible due to his previous drug convictions and faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison with a five-year period of parole ineligibility.
Assistant Prosecutor John P. Boyle represented the state during the six-day trial before Mercer County Superior Court Judge Darlene J. Pereksta. The defendant was represented by Robin Kay Lord, Esq.