NEWPORT-A drug dealer who said he started selling marijuana when he was laid off, in order to help pay his bills, was arrested Friday, Dec. 28, the Cocke County Sheriff's Department reported.

Undercover agents purchased marijuana during a 90-day period just prior to the arrest of James Sanford Brown, 39, of 509 Sorghum Way, in Newport, according to drug agent Chuck Evans.

Cocke County Sheriff Armando Fontes, Chief Deputy John Carrell, and Administrative Captain Derrick Woods joined other officers in going to Brown's residence on Friday, where contact with him was made in his front yard.

Brown, a convicted felon, allegedly had seven firearms on his property. He said he owned all of them. In addition, $2,396 was found in his pants pocket, the report stated.

For more details, please see the Tuesday edition of the Newport Plain Talk.