A Key West man with a lengthy Monroe County arrest history has been sentenced to state prison for selling drugs and violating his probation imposed in a previous drug case.

 

On November 29, Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Mark Jones handed Jarnelle Williams, 40, a 54-month term for violating probation and 42 months on the latest drug count. The sentences will be served concurrently. Williams pleaded no contest to sale of a controlled substance and unlawful use of a two-way communication device, and admitted to the probation violation.

 

In the latest drug case, on August 24, 2017, the Key West Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit utilized a confidential informant to arrange the purchase of the synthetic drug MDMA, known as Molly or Ecstasy and which produces feelings of increased energy and distorted sensory and time perception, from Williams.

 

Through text messages, the informant and Williams agreed to meet near a Duval Street business so the informant could buy $40 worth of MDMA. Police were monitoring the transaction and later police testing of the substance the informant purchased confirmed it was MDMA.

 

Monroe County Judge Peary Fowler signed an arrest warrant on December 12, 2017, and on December 18, detectives arrested Williams at Chapman Lane and Petronia Street.

 

Williams’ arrest violated his probation, which was imposed March 5, 2015, for a term of four years. He also violated other terms of his probation, including failing to submit to testing for drug or alcohol use and failing to make court-ordered payments.

 

The probation was imposed following Williams’ guilty plea to sale of cocaine. In that case, on July 2, 2014, the Special Investigations Unit used a confidential informant to arrange the purchase of crack cocaine from Williams. The informant met Williams on Julia Street and paid $100 for “multiple” pieces of crack that weighed .4 grams. Williams was arrested days later on a warrant.

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