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Globe, Arizona – Gila County Attorney Bradley D. Beauchamp announced that on August 24, 2015, the Honorable Gary V. Scales sentenced 41-year-old Payson resident Christopher Lee Norton to seven years in the Arizona Department of Corrections on three separate cases involving the possession of narcotic drugs.
According to Deputy County Attorney Jessica Oortman, who prosecuted the cases, on June 14, 2014, Norton, a habitual criminal with an extensive criminal record, was found on the side of the road by Detective Hansen of the Payson Police Department. Norton was distraught and Detective Hansen called for Emergency Medical Services. As Norton was speaking with Emergency Medical Services, he took a prescription bottle which was missing the label from his pocket. Norton allowed Detective Hansen to look inside the bottle. Detective Hansen found several pills, some of which contained Oxycodone, a narcotic drug.
On November 21, 2014, Detective DeSchaaf stopped a car for a traffic violation. One of the passengers was Norton. The car was ultimately searched and drug paraphernalia was found inside the car and the driver and Norton were arrested. During a search incident to arrest Officer Mullins found a bindle baggie of heroin located on Norton’s person.
On March 14, 2015, Norton, who had a warrant out for his arrest, was located in Payson and arrested by Officer Cadwell. During a search incident to arrest, Officer Cadwell found a loaded syringe of heroin located on Norton’s person.
County Attorney Beauchamp commends the Payson Police Department for their investigations which led to the successful prosecution Norton. Norton, who was released from prison in 2013, has a criminal history which includes felony convictions for Aggravated Assault, Possession of Drug Drugs, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
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