07-19-2010, 11:40 AM
Ronald Cummings Near Plea Deal
Father Of Missing Haleigh Cummings Remains Held On Drug Trafficking Charges
POSTED: Monday, July 19, 2010 news4Jax
PALATKA, Fla. -- Ronald Cummings, the father of kindergartner Haleigh who disappeared more than a year ago and who authorities fear is dead, will be held in jail for another month as his attorneys try and finalize a plea agreement with prosecutors on drug trafficking charges.
Prosecutors said they have surveillance videos showing five undercover drug deals involving Cummings.
Cummings was arrested in January and charged with five counts of selling prescription drugs. Authorities said the charges have no connection to the ongoing investigation of Haleigh's disappearance, which they now consider a homicide case.
Cummings' former wife, Misty, her brother and others were also arrested on similar charges. Investigators said Misty Cummings was with Haleigh the February 2009 night the girl disappeared and the last person to see her.
Jury selection for Ronald Cummings' trial was set to begin Monday, but the judge was told there was a tentative agreement that Cummings would agree to plead guilty to three of the five counts if the other two were dropped. A hearing was scheduled Aug. 20 to finalize that plea agreement.
If Cummings were to be convicted on all five charges, he could receive a minimum mandatory sentence of 25 years in prison.
Father Of Missing Haleigh Cummings Remains Held On Drug Trafficking Charges
POSTED: Monday, July 19, 2010 news4Jax
PALATKA, Fla. -- Ronald Cummings, the father of kindergartner Haleigh who disappeared more than a year ago and who authorities fear is dead, will be held in jail for another month as his attorneys try and finalize a plea agreement with prosecutors on drug trafficking charges.
Prosecutors said they have surveillance videos showing five undercover drug deals involving Cummings.
Cummings was arrested in January and charged with five counts of selling prescription drugs. Authorities said the charges have no connection to the ongoing investigation of Haleigh's disappearance, which they now consider a homicide case.
Cummings' former wife, Misty, her brother and others were also arrested on similar charges. Investigators said Misty Cummings was with Haleigh the February 2009 night the girl disappeared and the last person to see her.
Jury selection for Ronald Cummings' trial was set to begin Monday, but the judge was told there was a tentative agreement that Cummings would agree to plead guilty to three of the five counts if the other two were dropped. A hearing was scheduled Aug. 20 to finalize that plea agreement.
If Cummings were to be convicted on all five charges, he could receive a minimum mandatory sentence of 25 years in prison.