AL Man Convicted In Douglas County Court For Drug Trafficking

DOUGLASVILLE, GA —On May 19, Herman Braxton, 45, was convicted by a jury in Douglas County Superior Court for trafficking heroin and cocaine. The Huntsville, Alabama-resident faces a maximum of 61 years in jail and will be sentenced at a later date, according to the Douglas County District Attorney.

The DA's office said Braxton was arrested on May 8, 2019, by an officer with the Felony Interception Narcotics Detection (FIND) unit, which observed Braxton driving well below the speed limit and failing to maintain his lane on Interstate 20.

During a routine traffic stop, the officer smelled marijuana in the car. The officer then deployed his K-9 drug detection dog, who indicated the presence of drugs. A search of the vehicle uncovered four ounces of heroin, four ounces of cocaine, half an ounce of suspected marijuana and $5,800 in cash.

In a release, E. Dalia Racine, the Douglas County district attorney, said the area in which Braxton was apprehended can be a well-traveled route for drug traffickers.

"Sadly, Interstate 20 is a popular conduit to traffic and transport drugs between Birmingham, Alabama, and Atlanta," Racine said. "It's not uncommon for our officers to find drugs in such large quantities as a result."

A background check on Braxton also revealed he had an extensive criminal history in Alabama, which included being convicted of four aggravated assaults in four shootings and being convicted of aggravated assault for striking a police officer with his vehicle.

The punishment for drug trafficking is based on the weight of the drugs discovered. That is why Braxton is facing up to a mandatory minimum of 10 years and maximum of 30 years for the cocaine charge and a mandatory minimum of 25 years with a maximum of 30 years on the heroin charge.

"Heroin and cocaine are a scourge on our communities, they ruin lives and relationships and lead in all too many cases to death," Racine said.