BRENHAM MAN SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON ON DRUG CHARGE

  

A Brenham man with multiple previous convictions has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for Possession of a Controlled Substance in a Drug Free Zone.

34-year-old Quenton Dewayne Graves, of Brenham, was convicted by a jury Thursday afternoon, and sentenced to 20 years confinement today (Friday).

Graves was arrested by the Brenham Police Department on June 4, 2015 after being stopped for Driving with an Invalid License.  Earlier that day, narcotics investigators observed Graves potentially selling narcotics at the Platinum Cuts barbershop.  Graves’s car was searched and almost 3 grams of crack cocaine was located along with paraphernalia and cash consistent with drug use and distribution.  The traffic stop occurred just south of Henderson Park, which is a Drug Free Zone.

At the punishment phase, officers from the Brenham Police Department testified about prior observations consistent with drug dealing and Graves’s affiliation with a local gang.  In addition the State entered evidence of Graves’s prior conviction for three separate incidents of Delivery of a Controlled Substance in a Drug Free Zone.

The possession charge alone normally carries a punishment range of 2-10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.  However due to Graves’s prior conviction and the Drug Free Zone finding, the punishment range was increased to 7-20 years and a $20,000 fine.

Judge Carson Campbell presided over the trial in the 21st District Court.  Assistant District Attorney Derek Estep and First Assistant District Attorney Adam Muery represented the State at trial, and Lee Van Richardson, from Hempstead, represented the Defendant.

During closing, Estep told the jury to ask themselves, “When do we want Quenton Graves back selling drugs in our community?” and pointed to Graves’s release date less than 3 years before the June 5 offense date.  He commented similarly afterward, “Drugs, crack cocaine especially, are a plague on our community and lead to rising property and violent crime.  Graves has made a living off it, and time in prison didn’t slow it down.”

Later, District Attorney Julie Renken praised the work of the Brenham Police Department as well, “Large verdicts come from good investigations, and the Police Department did an excellent job here beginning with the surveillance at Platinum Cuts.”  Asked about the effect on the community, Renken explained, “Word of a maximum sentence will spread quickly.  The local drug dealers are now on notice.”