A Carlsbad man accused of lying to police and reaching for a gun during a 2018 traffic stop was sentenced to time in prison, according to Fifth Judicial District court records.
Truitt McDonald, 52, was sentenced to four years in state custody and three years parole Feb. 5 by Fifth Judicial District Judge Jane Shuler-Gray, court records indicated.
McDonald pleaded no contest to aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony. Gray found him guilty and sentenced McDonald to 18 months with 181 days of pre-sentence confinement credit for one year in prison, followed by one-year parole, per court records.
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McDonald pleaded no contest to eight other counts ranging from possession of a firearm to driving while license revoked and Gray pronounced him guilty, court records noted.
The remaining sentences run concurrent with count one, court records read.
McDonald was stopped by Carlsbad police on Nov. 23, 2018 for not having valid registration or insurance, read a criminal complaint.
McDonald allegedly gave officers a false name and social security number during a traffic stop. Officers observed McDonald trying to reach for a pistol hidden under the armrest of a vehicle, according to the criminal complaint.
Officers subdued McDonald and during the investigation he gave his real name to police and officers discovered methamphetamine, marijuana and assorted drug paraphernalia in his possession, the criminal complaint indicated.
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McDonald was sentenced to additional prison time by Gray on Feb. 5 for two other crimes committed in 2017, per court records.
He pleaded no contest to possession of a controlled substance. Gray deemed him guilty and suspended 192 days for pre-sentence confinement of an 18-month sentence. She also placed McDonald on one-year parole after his 11-month sentence ends, court records stated.
McDonald pleaded no contest to another charge of trafficking-controlled substances. Gray pronounced him guilty and sentenced McDonald to nine years in prison, suspending six years of it and getting 463 days of pre-sentence confinement for one year in state custody.
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After completion of the sentence, McDonald will serve two years parole and five years’ probation, read court records.
McDonald pleaded no contest on Feb. 5 before Fifth Judicial District Judge Lisa Riley on a 2020 charge of receipt, transportation or possession of a firearm or destructive device by a felon.
He was sentenced to 18 months in prison and was given 237 days of pre-sentence confinement for a total prison term of ten months, followed by one-year parole.
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He also pleaded no contest to another 2020 charge of concealing identity. Riley found McDonald guilty and sentenced him to six months in state custody.
McDonald was given 180 days of pre-sentence confinement credit for a total of three days in prison. The sentence runs concurrent with count one, court records read.
All sentences run concurrent and McDonald was ordered to undergo drug and alcohol screening, per court records.
McDonald was released into New Mexico Department of Corrections (DOC) custody on Feb. 26, according to DOC’s website.
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Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on Twitter.
