BEAUFORT — Michael Harper, 33, of Trenton, pleaded guilty in Carteret County Superior Court this week to assault inflicting serious bodily injury; possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver methamphetamine; possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver psilocybin (hallucinogenic mushrooms); and driving while impaired, according to a release from the District Attorney’s office.
The charges arose out of an unprovoked assault at Paddy’s Pub in Emerald Isle on April 8, where Harper struck 26-year old Adam Claxton while Claxton was shooting pool with a friend shortly after midnight, according to the release.
Harper fled in a car and was later apprehended in Indian Beach. His car was consequently searched and found to contain methamphetamine, hallucinogenic mushrooms, drug paraphernalia and $3,000 in cash. His blood alcohol content was .06 percent and he was impaired by marijuana, according to the release.
Harper received consecutive active prison sentences of 25-39 months for the assault, nine to 20 months for the methamphetamine, nine to 20 months for the psilocybin and six months for the DWI.