ASHEVILLE, N.C. — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - North Carolina, Western), published as received.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Chief U. S. District Judge Martin Reidinger handed down a lengthy sentence today to a Hendersonville, N.C., man convicted of trafficking cocaine, fentanyl, prescription pills and other narcotics in and around Henderson County, announced Acting U.S. Attorney William T. Stetzer.
On December 9, 2020, Eric Charles Butler, 57, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to distribute narcotics, for which he was charged separately by federal criminal indictments. Today, Judge Reidinger ordered Butler to serve 17 years in prison for each count of conviction, to be served concurrently, and to remain under court supervision for six years upon completion of the prison term. As a result of Butler’s multiple prior drug convictions, the Court sentenced him as a career offender.
Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which oversees the Asheville Post of Duty, Sheriff Lowell S. Griffin of the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), and Chief Blair Myhand of the Hendersonville Police Department (HPD) join Acting U.S. Attorney Stetzer in making today’s announcement.
According to filed court documents and court records, on August 10, 2019, a Henderson County Sheriff’s Office deputy conducted a traffic stop after determining Butler was driving a vehicle with a revoked registration. Over the course of the traffic stop, Butler attempted to flee the scene on foot. Butler was apprehended shortly thereafter by two HCSO deputies, one of whom was deputy Ryan Hendrix. Deputy Hendrix was killed in the line of duty on September 10, 2020. Court records show that the deputies recovered from Butler’s person narcotics, including MDMA, methamphetamine, cocaine, and morphine, as well as digital scales and other drug paraphernalia, and over $6,800 in cash from his vehicle. Butler was charged with state drug charges and was released on bond.
On February 16, 2020, while Butler was on pretrial release on state offenses, an officer with the Hendersonville Police Department attempted to stop the vehicle Butler was driving for a traffic violation. Butler did not comply and sped away, in an attempt to evade the police. A vehicle pursuit followed and, when Butler’s vehicle became stuck on the road, Butler attempted to flee on foot through the nearby woods. Police officers ultimately located Butler and he was arrested. Over the course of the investigation into that incident, law enforcement recovered methamphetamine, Xanax, oxycodone, cocaine and fentanyl, which Butler possessed with the intent to distribute. Butler was charged with state charges for Trafficking in Meth and Fleeing to Elude Arrest in a Motor vehicle.
In May 2020, while Butler was still on pre-trial release on the aforementioned state offenses, law enforcement learned that Butler was continuing to traffic narcotics. On May 12, 2020, law enforcement located Butler driving a vehicle with a suspended license. When the officers attempted to stop Butler’s vehicle, Butler sped off and once again attempted to evade law enforcement. Butler was ultimately apprehended following a vehicle pursuit during which Butler drove recklessly through a busy residential area. Law enforcement were able to intercept Butler’s vehicle and he was ultimately apprehended. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement recovered nearly half a kilogram of powdered cocaine, fentanyl, oxycodone pills, crack cocaine, and other drug paraphernalia.
Butler is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, Acting U.S. Attorney Stetzer commended the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, the Hendersonville Police Department, and the DEA in Asheville for their investigation of this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Kent, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville, prosecuted the case.
