Man Pleads Guilty To Trafficking Fentanyl In Catawba County Court

A Morganton man will serve seven to 10 years in prison following his conviction for trafficking fentanyl by possession and resisting an officer. 60-year-old Juan Gregory McPherson entered a guilty plea to those charges during a recent session of Catawba County Superior Court. McPherson was handed the sentence by the Honorable Karen Eady-Williams, Superior Court Judge from Mecklenburg Count. The defendant was also was assessed a mandatory fine of $500,000.

A traffic stop for no tag light was initiated on February 10, 2026, by officers from Long View Police Department, and the odor of marijuana was detected. The defendant admitted that marijuana was under the seat. As he was being searched, McPherson attempted to flee from officers but slipped and fell. After a brief struggle, he was placed in handcuffs. He was found in possession of glass and plastic pipes. On the ground where he fell and was detained, officers found a pack of cigarettes containing a trafficking amount of fentanyl.

Sergeant Alex Chapman investigated the case for the Long View Police Department.