Morganton couple arrested on weapon, drug charges

A couple was charged late Thursday night after a traffic stop led to the discovery of concealed weapons.

Thomas Wayne Carlson, 40, of Morganton, was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a Schedule IV controlled substance, carrying a concealed weapon, no liability insurance and fictitious registration plate, according to a release from the Morganton Department of Public Safety.

Also charged was Echo Danielle Camp, 32, of Morganton, who was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon and carrying a concealed weapon, the release said.

The charges came after an officer patrolling Burkemont Avenue around 10 p.m. saw a vehicle without a license plate, the release said.

The officer stopped the vehicle and during the course of the investigation, officers found three firearms in the vehicle, including two that were concealed on the occupants themselves, the release said. Neither of the occupants should have been in possession of a firearm because both are felons, the release said.

A subsequent search of the vehicle turned up numerous quantities of a Schedule IV controlled substance and a large amount of cash, the release said.

Carlson has previous convictions of selling a Schedule II controlled substance, attempted second-degree sex offense, failure to register as a sex offender, possession with intent to sell a Schedule II controlled substance and possession of a firearm by a felon, according to records from the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction.

Camp has previously been convicted of possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, NCDAC records showed.

Carlson was held without bond, the release said. Camp's bond was set at $7,500 secured.