A man who was found in possession of drugs during a road-side traffic stop has been placed on good-behaviour orders in Orange Local Court.
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Police from the Orange Target Action Group were patrolling Summer Street when they stopped a ute being driven by Lee Michael Rogers of Loftus Street, Manildra, for random drug and alcohol testing.
The 34-year-old had a female passenger in the front seat when he was stopped about 9.45pm on May 20, 2020.
Rogers was unable to produce a driver's licence and a police check revealed his licence was suspended eight days earlier from May 12 to August 11, 2020.
The checks also led police to suspect there may be drugs in the vehicle.
Rogers and his passenger were both told to get out of the ute and during a search police found 20 Ritalin tablets in Rogers' pocket.
"That's my medicine," Rogers said however he did not have a prescription and said they were given to him by a friend.
Police also found a small re-sealable plastic bag containing 0.87 grams of methamphetamine in the driver's side footwell of the ute. Another 1.51 grams of methamphetamine was found in a tobacco packet in the passenger-side footwell and Rogers claimed ownership of both drug bags.
Magistrate David Day sentenced Rogers on Monday and gave him two 12-month community correction orders for possession of the methamphetamine.
He also gave him a six-month CCO for driving while his licence was suspended and he disqualified Rogers from driving for 12 months.
Mr Day said Rogers had previously gone to jail for driving while his licence was disqualified however he also noted that Rogers has expressed a desire to "go clean".
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