Sallisaw Man Faces Drug, Weapons Charges

A man arrested Aug. 25 in Sallisaw faces two felony drug charges and a pair of weapons charges, also felonies.

Records show that Robert William Sparks, 32, of Sallisaw was arrested at a city trailer home on felony charges of trafficking in illegal drugs, possession of drugs with the intent to distribute, possession of a firearm after former felony conviction and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Sparks was also charged with two misdemeanor drug offenses.

The police report filed in the case reveals that the arresting officer received information on Sparks’ location. Knowing Sparks had an outstanding arrest warrant, the officer attempted to make contact with the suspect. Sparks was found hiding in a closet. He was arrested without incident.

At the scene, officers found a Smith & Wesson semi-automatic handgun with a fully loaded magazine lying on a bed. 

A further search of the scene revealed a plastic, zip-type bag containing a white crystalline substance, multiple pills thought to be Diazepam and a modified straw. A search of Sparks turned up a plastic syringe in the man’s front shirt pocket. 

When asked where the handgun came from and whether it was stolen, Sparks told officers “I’m sure it is (stolen). I bought it from somebody,” but a woman found inside the home told law enforcement that she had brought the weapon to Sparks and said it belonged to her.

Inside the home, officers also found an opened, black zip-style bag. The bag contained a large, plastic bag that had a white crystalline substance inside it. The bag also held several more plastic zip-style bags and a glass container that contained the white substance. In all, officers found more than 21 grams of suspected methamphetamine.

The drugs were sent to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation for further testing.

The drug trafficking charge is punishable by up to life in prison and a fine of up to $50,000. The possession with intent to distribute charge is punishable by up to five years in the Department of Corrections and a fine of up to $20,000.

The two felony weapons counts each carry up to 10-year prison terms. The misdemeanor charges Sparks faces are for possession of a controlled dangerous substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sparks was released on $15,000 bond.

Records show that Sparks was convicted of similar charges in 2007, 2012 and 2014.

Laura Brown, KXMX Staff Writer

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