Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Davidson Found Guilty; Receives 41 Years

A 45-year-old Emmet man will be spending the next 41 years in prison.

John William Davidson was found guilty on five of seven counts during a trial Tuesday and Wednesday, March 13-14. On four counts he was given 10 year sentences, with a one year sentence on the fifth charge. Eighth Judicial District North Judge Jim Gunter made the sentences consecutive, meaning Davidson must serve one before the next begins.

Davidson had been charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, cocaine and methamphetamine, manufacture of a controlled substance, marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and simultaneous possession of drugs and weapons, along with criminal use of prohibited weapons.

On July 7, 2000, officers with the Nevada County Sheriff's Office were doing an annual flying search for drugs, and sighted something suspicious at the Davidson residence.

A search warrant was obtained, with officers going to Davidson's home in Emmet and finding 2.71 ounces of cocaine, 1.3 pounds of marijuana, 11 grams of methamphetamine, 10 packages of a powdery substance not identified, one packet marked "speedball", four caplets with a powdery substance inside and one unidentified tablet.

In addition, officers found four handguns and a sawed off shotgun. They also found various items of drug paraphernalia and $7,168 in cash.

The search turned up 19 marijuana plants in a cattle trailer as well.

Davidson was released on a $100,000 bond and hired John Goodson of Texarkana to represent him in court.

However, the jury found Davidson guilty on five of the seven charges. They were: possession of a controlled substance, namely cocaine, for which he received a 10 year sentence; possession of a controlled substance, namely methamphetamine, with another 10 year sentence; possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, carrying the third 10 year sentence; possession of drug paraphernalia, resulting in the fourth 10 year sentence; and possession of prohibited weapons, carrying a one year sentence.

Gunter stacked the sentences to run consecutively, instead of concurrently, giving Davidson a total of 41 years. Davidson was also charged $750 in court costs.