Danny J Hopkins Jr
By Patti Weaver
(Stillwater, Okla.) — An ex-convict from Cushing accused of trafficking $11,500 worth of methamphetamine has been released from the Payne County Jail on $250,000 bail with an order to appear in court on Thursday for arraignment with an attorney.
Danny Joe Hopkins Jr., 37, had been arrested at 1:44 pm on Oct. 8 in Stillwater, about 14 minutes after he was spotted at a marijuana shop near 6th and Burdick Street by Payne County Sheriff’s Lt. Dan Nack, court records show.
Hopkins was held in the Payne County Jail for eight days until he posted $250,000 bail on Saturday, court records show.
Due to his extensive criminal record, Hopkins could be given a prison term of 30 years to life if convicted of trafficking methamphetamine in Stillwater, court records show.
Stillwater Police Officer Brett Moore alleged in an affidavit that at 1:30 pm on Oct. 8, “Payne County Deputy Nack contacted me advising he observed Danny Hopkins Jr. at the marijuana shop near 6th and Burdick.
“Deputy Nack stated Danny was driving a white Ford F-150, and observed an individual exit the marijuana dispensary and place an item in the driver’s side of the vehicle. Deputy Nack informed me Danny had a suspended Oklahoma driver’s license.
“After arriving at the location, I observed the vehicle leaving westbound through the alley behind the dispensary. I attempted to catch up to the vehicle, at which time Deputy Nack stopped the vehicle at 5th and Arrington.
“While speaking to Danny, I could smell an overwhelming odor of marijuana emitting from within the vehicle,” which had a marijuana container in the center console, the Stillwater officer alleged in his affidavit.
“I asked Danny if he had a medical marijuana card. Danny stated he did not. I asked Danny if he had just purchased marijuana from the dispensary. Danny stated he had and continued to state there was approximately 1/8 ounce inside the vehicle.
“Due to Danny not having a marijuana card and admitting to marijuana inside the vehicle, I opened the driver’s door to retrieve the marijuana. As I opened the door, I observed a plastic bag containing methamphetamine in the driver’s door panel of the vehicle,” the Stillwater officer alleged in his affidavit.
After telling Hopkins that he was under arrest, the Stillwater officer alleged, “I began searching the engine compartment of the vehicle and immediately observed an ammo can in the natural void between the grill and radiator. I opened the ammo can and observed a large quantity of methamphetamine wrapped in cellophane.
“I continued my search of the vehicle and located a handwritten drug sale ledger in the back seat of the vehicle.”
The total weight of the methamphetamine seized from the vehicle was 2.8 pounds, which is substantially more than the 20 grams required for a trafficking charge, the affidavit alleged. “This carries an approximate street value of $11,500. Danny has numerous felony convictions of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Danny was just released from prison in February of this year,” the affidavit said.
According to court records and the state Department of Corrections, Hopkins had been given a 15-year prison term in 2017 for possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute in 2015 in Payne County, but he only served about three and one-half years. Hopkins had also been given in 2017 a 25-year prison term for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in Lincoln County in 2015, but served less than three years.
Hopkins had also been convicted of possessing methamphetamine, marijuana and alprazolam in Payne County in 2008 for which he was given a five-year prison term followed by five years of probation. On the same day in Payne County, Hopkins was given two concurrent five-year prison terms followed by five years of probation for unauthorized use of a vehicle, grand larceny, and being a felon in possession of a firearm in Cushing in 2008, along with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute in Payne County in 2007.
