ROCKINGHAM — A Pender County man is facing drug and larceny charges in Richmond County.
Records show 25-year-old Matthew Blake Fussell, of Willard, was arrested without a warrant on June 7 after allegedly being found in possession of an unspecified quantity of methamphetamine, fentanyl and marijuana, as well as a glass smoking pipe, by an officer with the Rockingham Police Department.
Fussell is also accused of stealing a fountain drink and “a treat” from the Speedway store in Rockingham on the same day.
He was arrested and charged with: possession of methamphetamine; possession of fentanyl; simple possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance; possession of drug paraphernalia; and misdemeanor larceny.
Fussell was booked into the Richmond County Jail where he is being held on a combined $45,000 secured bond — $35,000 on the drug charges and $1,000 on the larceny charge. His next court appearances are scheduled for July 9 on the drug charges and July 10 on the larceny charge.
Online court records show Fussell has pending charges of misdemeanor larceny and possession of stolen goods from 2025.
Records with the N.C. Department of Adult Correction show Fussell is currently on probation, having received an 18-month suspended sentence in March following a conviction on misdemeanor charges of possession of a Schedule III controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia in Moore County.
Fussell was also convicted in 2019 on the following charges:
New Hanover - two counts of breaking and entering vehicles
Pender - three counts of possessing stolen goods; two counts of breaking and entering vehicles; one count each of misdemeanor larceny, and hit and run
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
