Lawton man avoids trial, pleads to meth trafficking

A Lawton man avoided trial by pleading guilty to methamphetamine trafficking.

Slated to begin trial Monday in Presiding Comanche County District Judge Emmit Tayloe’s courtroom, Cedric Antonio Way, 37, entered a blind guilty plea Friday to felony charges of aggravated trafficking in illegal drugs, using a phone to commission and felony and possession of a firearm after former felony conviction.

Way was arrested and charged along with Brandon Kyle Pierce following a police search of Pierce’s home at 1208 NW Bell that led to the discovery of meth.

Investigators stated over 1 pound of meth and several items of paraphernalia including digital scales, spoons and syringes with meth residue were recovered. A gun and a large amount of money also were discovered.

Pierce admitted to selling and using meth. He said he’d been doing good but recently got back into it, the affidavit states. He admitted there would be drug deals on his text message logs and was arrested.

Police set up drug deal from Pierce’s phone and address for that afternoon. A silver SUV arrived with Way who was seen carrying a large white bag, according to the affidavit. Detectives approached as he knocked on the door. When told to show his hands, Way threw the bag over the bushes into the neighbor’s yard, along with his keys before he was taken into custody.

A K9 officer sniffed the SUV and detected narcotics. After receiving a search warrant, police located a Glock 43 with a drum magazine. The total weight of the meth found inside the white bag totaled 2.35 pounds, the affidavit states.

Way has prior felony convictions from: Tulsa County in September 2008 for robbery with a firearm; Pittsburg County in September 2016 for trafficking in illegal drugs; Garfield County in January 2017 for distribution of meth; and in Logan County in August 2017 for possession of meth by an inmate in a penal institution, records indicate.

Pierce, 45, of Lawton, was charged with five felony counts: possession of a controlled drug with intent to distribute, maintaining a place for keeping/selling drugs, unlawful use of a communication facility, acquiring the proceeds from drug activities, and possession of a firearm after former felony conviction; as well as a. misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia, records indicate.

Records indicate Pierce is scheduled to enter a guilty plea and receive his sentencing at 9:30 a.m. Aug. 27.

Way has been in the Comanche County Detention Center on $200,000 bond since his initial court appearance in May 2022.

Following a pre-sentence investigation, Way will be sentenced at 10 a.m. Oct. 2.