Lynn felon who took drugs into police station arraigned

For The ItemSALEM – A Superior Court judge ordered a Lynn felon who was caught with two bags of cocaine in his pocket while at the police station two months ago held on $10,000 cash bail following his arraignment.George Johnson, 45, of 15 Fayette Court, remains held at Middleton Jail after pleading not guilty to trafficking over 14 grams of cocaine, a crime that will net him a mandatory three-year prison term, if convicted.In asking for the high bail amount, Assistant District Attorney Karen Hopwood told Judge Howard J. Whitehead that on April 19 Lynn Police officers went to his Fayette Court home to verify his address, where he was listed as living with his mother.His mother insisted that her son was not a resident of that address. Authorities told her they were going to seek a warrant for failing to register.Then that evening, Johnson appeared at the Lynn Police station telling authorities that he did live at the Fayette Court address and his mother was just “nervous.”Detective Paul Holey proceeded to “pat frisk” Johnson and found two sandwich bags containing crack and powdered cocaine, a total of approximately 16 grams, stated Hopwood.She also pointed out to Whitehead that Johnson has 43 convictions on his record dating back to 1984, including 11 drug convictions.Defense lawyer Thomas Pierce argued for a $5,000 cash bail acknowledging his clients long record as he cited “deep roots” in Lynn while reminding Whitehead that his client immediately went to the police station when he thought he was in trouble.In setting the bail, Whitehead noted the three-year mandatory punishment he is facing and that how Johnson walked into the police station knowing he had cocaine on his person.Johnson is due back in court on July 6 for a pretrial conference.