MAN WHO DODGED DRUG LAWS FINALLY CONVICTED

NORFOLK -- A man who dodged state drug charges three times and who has been
a fugitive for four years has been sentenced to more than 15 years in
federal prison.

Trenton D. Winder, 36, of Norfolk, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to
188 months in prison after pleading guilty to possession of crack cocaine
and firearms as a convicted felon.

Winder was arrested three times by Norfolk police in 1997. In the first
case, police discovered crack, guns and cash in his home. The second time,
police found him with heroin. On the third arrest, in May 1997, police
found him with crack, heroin, marijuana and cash, according to federal
officials.

In each case, he was freed on bond. It is unclear why that happened.

Federal officials said that after the third arrest, Winder never showed up
in court and has been a fugitive since.

Winder was arrested on the fugitive warrant in March. The state charges
from 1997 were dropped when he pleaded guilty in federal court, according
to James A. Metcalfe, an assistant U.S. attorney.

Winder was prosecuted under Project Exile, a federal program designed to
stop convicted felons caught with drugs and guns.

Reach Tim McGlone at 446-2343 or tmcglone@pilotonline.com