1000 x 90

Mark Conner Convicted of Trafficking in Meth

On June 1, 2017, Mark Leon Conner, 52, was convicted of two counts of trafficking in methamphetamine and one count of conspiracy to traffic in methamphetamine.  A Watauga County jury found Conner guilty as charged after a three-day trial.

In February of 2016 the defendant and two accomplices travelled by vehicle from Marion, North Carolina, to Watauga County in order to deliver methamphetamine. Law enforcement personnel subsequently stopped the defendant’s vehicle in the Foscoe community and discovered a trafficking amount of methamphetamine on Mr. Conner’s person.  During the trial, Mr. Conner was also identified as the supplier of the methamphetamine.

On June 5, 2017, the Honorable Marvin P. Pope, Superior Court Judge, sentenced Conner to a minimum of 11 years, and to a maximum of 15 years in prison.  Judge Pope also imposed a $100,000 fine.

“Mr. Conner’s decision to become a supplier of this poison represents a threat to the wellbeing of our community,” District Attorney Seth Banks said in a statement.  “We continue to be committed to aggressively prosecuting those who would traffic in methamphetamine.  I would like to thank Assistant District Attorney Matt Rupp for his work on this case.  I also would like to commend the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office for their continuing efforts to combat the devastating effects methamphetamine in our community.”