Jennifer Perricone
St. Leonard, MD – A North Carolina woman is facing charges of drug possession and unauthorized use of a rental vehicle following an incident that occurred Feb. 16 in Calvert County.
According to a report filed in District Court for Calvert County by Deputy O’Donnell, he responded to Lancaster Drive at the intersection of Chelsey Court in St. Leonard around 1:08 p.m. “to check the welfare of a citizen who was slumped over the wheel of her vehicle. I arrived on the scene and observed a silver Ford Explorer bearing North Carolina registration with a female driver, later identified as Jennifer Perricone. Calvert County Control Center advised the North Carolina registration was showing a possible hit for a stolen vehicle.”
O’Donnell stated that Perricone was sitting in the vehicle crying and trying to make a phone call. “She stated she has been going through a lot of stuff and is having problems with her whole life,” O’Donnell stated in court documents. “Ms. Perricone was speaking incoherent statements and fumbling with her wallet in the vehicle. I asked for her driver’s license multiple times and she would reach for her purse but just slump over in the seat, not moving.”
While performed well during a standardized sobriety test a K9 was brought to the scene and had a positive alert on Perricone’s vehicle. No drugs were found in the vehicle. However, during a subsequent search of her person yielded a small bag of cocaine hidden in her bra. The bag weighed 0.5 grams. The search was conducted at the sheriff’s office after Perricone was arrested for possibly possessing the rental vehicle illegally.
“Mrs. Perricone stated she was just holding the baggie for a friend and doesn’t know what is inside,” O’Donnell stated in court documents.
Perricone indicated the rental company, Fayetteville Enterprise Rental Agency, had threatened to report the vehicle stolen if she did not return it. The vehicle was subsequently towed to the sheriff’s office lot.
According to court documents, Perricone was charged with possession of contraband in a place of confinement, possession of a controlled dangerous substance not marijuana, unauthorized use of a rental vehicle and driving on a suspended license. If convicted on all the charges Perricone faces a maximum of 11 years in jail and $26,100 in fines.
According to court records, Perricone, who resides in Spring Lake, NC, posted bond and was released. She has a hearing on the charges tentatively scheduled for May 18 at 10:30 a.m. in District Court.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
