AUTRYVILLE — Two pounds of marijuana were seized by deputies with the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office during a traffic stop shortly after 4:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon just outside of Autryville.

Reports were not made available to The Sampson Independent until around noon Friday.

According to reports, a gold 2006 Chevrolet Malibu was stopped on N.C. 24 for a routine traffic violation when deputies smelled the odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. A plastic bag containing approximately two pounds of the drug was located and seized.

The driver of the vehicle, Paul Charles Payne, III, 26, of 136 Bladen Circle, Fayetteville, was taken into custody and charged with possession with intent to sell/deliver marijuana; maintaining a vehicle for the storage of a controlled substance; and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Payne was placed in the Sampson County Detention Center under a $7,500 bond.

According to the North Carolina Department of Corrections, Payne is a convicted felon dating back to a November 1999 incident in which he was convicted of burning an education/school building; conspiracy to burn an education/school building; damage to property; felony breaking and entering; making a bomb threat; and conspiracy to making a bomb threat. He served one year and eight months for the crime.

To reach Doug Clark call 910-592-8137 ext. 123 or send e-mail to sisports@myclintonnc.com.