Nelson's band's drug case hits court
By Catharin Shepard
Published in News on May 6, 2010 1:46 PM
KENANSVILLE -- Members of country singer Willie Nelson's band were sentenced Wednesday to pay a $25 fine for their actions following a canceled concert at the Duplin County Events Center in January.
Musicians Thomas Ray Hawkins, Dudley Prewitt and Kenneth Koepke were initially cited for possession of one-half ounce of marijuana and possession of non-tax paid alcohol, but the charges were reduced to one count of disorderly conduct for each band member.
Musicians Aaron Foye, Dan Spears and Robert Lemons were originally cited for possession of non-tax paid alcohol. The charges against Foye, Spears and Lemons were dismissed. The moonshine confiscated at the time is now believed to have belonged to the former owner of the tour bus, according to officials.
Hawkins, Prewitt and Koepke did not appear personally in court Wednesday. Legal representation for the musicians presented written waivers for attendance for the defendants. The musicians live in other states.
The court ordered that the marijuana confiscated from the band members was to be destroyed. Judge Louis F. Foy Jr. presided over the proceedings.
Last month former Duplin Events Center Executive Director John Vogt and former security guard Donald Farrior were found not guilty of charges related to the concert raid on Jan. 28.