Archived News

Franklin man sentenced as habitual felon

District Attorney Ashley Welch announced that Jeremy Edward Stepp has been sentenced as a habitual felon and can expect to spend the next 25 to 42 months in prison for possession of methamphetamine.

Stepp, 28, entered a plea of no contest in Macon County Superior Court on Monday. The Franklin resident appeared before Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Bill Coward with three prior methamphetamine-related convictions in as many years (2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively).

“With those three prior felony convictions on his record, North Carolina’s habitual offender law kicked in, raising the level of punishment Stepp could receive under the state’s structured-sentencing law,” Welch said.

Being designated and convicted as habitual felon in North Carolina means defendants are sentenced to a felony class level four classes higher than the underlying felony convictions. Defendants cannot be sentenced at a higher level than a class C felony.

During sentencing, the judge noted Stepp had violated the terms of his parole. Coward activated that underlying sentence, ordering it to run concurrently with his sentence.

Stepp received credit for 149 days of pre-trial confinement. He must pay court costs and a lab fee.

Related Items

On Aug. 16, 2019, Macon County deputies stopped a vehicle, because they suspected an insurance violation. Stepp was a passenger in the vehicle. To ensure officer safety, the deputies frisked Stepp. A small bag fell on the ground. The contents later tested positive as methamphetamine.

Assistant District Attorney Jason Arnold prosecuted the case. 

Smokey Mountain News Logo
SUPPORT THE SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS AND
INDEPENDENT, AWARD-WINNING JOURNALISM
Go to top
Payment Information

/

At our inception 20 years ago, we chose to be different. Unlike other news organizations, we made the decision to provide in-depth, regional reporting free to anyone who wanted access to it. We don’t plan to change that model. Support from our readers will help us maintain and strengthen the editorial independence that is crucial to our mission to help make Western North Carolina a better place to call home. If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News.

The Smoky Mountain News is a wholly private corporation. Reader contributions support the journalistic mission of SMN to remain independent. Your support of SMN does not constitute a charitable donation. If you have a question about contributing to SMN, please contact us.