Not Guilty Plea In Steroid Possession Case

06-03-06

(CBS) MURRIETA, Calif. A 30-year-old parolee pleaded not guilty Monday to charges that he was carrying injectable steroids discovered after being stopped by police.

Tad Wynn Stringam of Murrieta is charged with possession of a controlled substance for sale, intent to distribute a controlled substance and resisting an officer -- a member of the Murrieta Police Department with whom he allegedly scuffled.

He entered his plea before Superior Court Judge Michael S. Hider, who scheduled the suspect's next court date for Aug. 4.

Stringham was stopped shortly after 9 a.m. on April 1 on the Winchester Road offramp from southbound Interstate 15 after a police officer witnessed him traveling faster than 100 mph, Murrieta police Sgt. Bob Landwehr said.

When the officer attempted to pat down the suspect, the 6-foot-3-inch, 230-pound cyclist allegedly pushed the officer away and tried to get back on his motorcycle, at which point the officer used pepper spray, Landwehr said.

Stringam allegedly shoved the officer again and ran down an embankment, where he then elbowed the cop to get away. The suspect ran through the Rancho Car Wash, but workers helped the officer stop him on Jefferson Avenue, north of Winchester Road, according to authorities.

Landwehr said officers found 15 bottles of injectable steroids on Stringam, who was on state and federal parole. If convicted as charged, Stringam faces a maximum sentence of five years and eight months in state prison.