Suncoast man sentenced to 15 years in prison for Trafficking in Amphetamine

Amira Fox – State Attorney

Terry Carlton was adjudicated guilty and sentenced to 15 years in prison for Trafficking in Amphetamine, following a trial in Charlotte County. He must also pay a $50,000 fine and had his driver’s license suspended for 6 months. He was caught after driving through a roadblock at an unrelated traffic homicide investigation.

On July 14, 2022, a State Trooper Corporal, with the Florida Highway Patrol, who was investigating the earlier crash, watched as the defendant drove through the roadblock at the crash scene on U.S. 41, just south of Tuckers Grade Road. The defendant drove around four marked law enforcement vehicles with flashing lights, as well as traffic cones, and then began driving south in the northbound lanes of traffic on U.S. 41.

The State Trooper ran across a median signaling the driver to stop with a flashlight to get his attention, as it was dark, just after 10 p.m. The car slowed down after driving about another 50 feet. The defendant got out without stopping the car and the car started to roll forward. The State Trooper told the defendant to stop the vehicle and the defendant said, “I thought I could go this way.”

The vehicle was then stopped and turned off. The defendant appeared jittery and during questioning admitted to smoking methamphetamine earlier and to having meth in the car. He was arrested at the scene. During a search of the vehicle two plastic baggies containing meth were found as were two empty plastic baggies. There were multiple open containers of alcohol inside the vehicle.

In this case, the defendant was also adjudicated guilty of DUI and was sentenced to 6 months of probation to follow his 15 year prison sentence. He was given credit time served for Possession of Paraphernalia.

Assistant State Attorney Caitlin Sorenson prosecuted the case.