Deputies nab 3 on felony pot charges

Three men were arrested and charged with felony amounts of marijuana after they were pulled over early Sunday morning, Sheriff Eric Clark said.

Christopher H. Johnson, 26, of 114 Pine Street, Newton, was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, no insurance and a seat belt violation.

Jonathan Jones, 21, of 404 Smith Street, Newton, was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Aviante Martinez Shoemaker, 29, of 4034 Sand Springs Church Road, Decatur, was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Clark said all men had felony amounts of marijuana.

The arrest stemmed from a checkpoint at the intersection of Road 410 and  Road 341. Deputies stopped a White Nissan Rogue driven by Johnson. 

Deputies found three handguns and over 140 grams of marijuana in the vehicle. Clark said each person was in possession of more than 30 grams of marijuana a piece. 

Clark said the Rogue was the first stop of the evening for that particular checkpoint.