Last week, in two separate drug-related cases involving the Ludowici Police Department and the Long County Sheriff’s Office, a Jesup man pleaded guilty to possession of an illegal substance and a Long County resident was arrested.
Ludowici Police Department Investigator Diannia Duncan said James Carlos Herndon, 45, pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges he faced stemming from an incident last month.
On June 19, someone at the Ludowici Bank phoned the LPD and reported a man behaving suspiciously. Officers responded to the call and after Duncan and Chief T.J. Gaskin investigated, Herndon was arrested and charged with possession of methadone, which is a Schedule 2 drug, theft by taking, forgery and criminal damage to property.  
Herndon was sentenced to 10 years probation pending his completion of a drug rehabilitation program, Duncan said.
“All of his charges stemmed from his drug addiction and, fortunately, now he is getting some help. People don’t realize that the majority of our criminal cases all revolve around drugs,” she said.
In a second drug-related case, a Long County man was arrested and charged with DUI and possession of a controlled substance after he reportedly was found passed out in a truck parked in the county’s Tibet area.
According to information provided by Long County Sheriff Craig Nobles, Sgt. Andy Young responded to a July 10 call regarding a driver who appeared to be unconscious in a vehicle on the side of the road. Young said he found a county code enforcement vehicle parked near Stafford Dairy Road. The driver appeared to be sleeping, and the white Ford pickup was running. Young attempted but was not able to wake the driver.
The sergeant said he opened the door, and the driver, who later was identified as Christopher Walker, 25, sat up and appeared disoriented. Young said Walker stepped out of the truck but was unsteady.  
According to information provided by the sheriff’s office, Young found an open spice packet, a unopened spice packet, a glass pipe, a partially used box of matches, an unopened pack of cigarette papers, a lighter and a small bag containing several suspected spice cigarette butts.
Walker was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of intoxicants, driving with a suspended license and possession of a controlled substance.