Man charged with pot in pants faces probation violations

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The man accused of having 40 bags of pot in his underwear over the weekend could face new jail time for an old crime.

In 2013 Wakeel Stewart was charged with two other men in connection to a shooting near Creekwood. Records show prosecutors dismissed charges including attempted murder and felony conspiracy against Stewart last April when he pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon. WWAY has learned that plea deal came after the victim would not cooperate. Stewart got a 15-27-month suspended sentence and 36 months probation.

But within months of the plea deal, Stewart was back in trouble again.

Last fall Wilmington Police arrested him on a misdemeanor gun charge after what was described as a running gun battle through the streets of Wilmington. That led to probation violation charges, because investigators say Stewart was a felon with a gun. He also faces probation violations for several heroin-related charges. Officers served warrants for those alleged crimes after his weekend marijuana arrest.

Stewart is in jail under $268,000 secured bond.

The NC Department of Correction website shows Stewart’s criminal record dates back to 2011, when he was 16 years old, and was convicted of theft charges. He was convicted a year later of a drug charge and served three months in prison.