Habitual Drug Dealer Sentenced to 45 Years After Vehicle Pursuit Through Conroe

CONROE, TX -- On Tuesday, July 27, 2021, a Montgomery County jury sentenced Marcus Neal Meadows to 45 years in prison after finding him guilty of the felony offense of Evading Arrest or Detention with a Vehicle and finding that the defendant used a Deadly Weapon during the commission of the crime. The Honorable Judge Vincenzo Santini of the 457th District Court presided over the two-day trial.

On August 2, 2019, the Montgomery County Narcotics Enforcement Team (MOCONET) conducted a surveillance operation at a known drug house in Conroe, Texas. MOCONET detectives were aware that Meadows was involved in the trafficking of narcotics and also knew that Meadows had an active parole warrant for his arrest. At the time, Meadows was out on parole after his second trip to prison for drug dealing.

Detectives observed Meadows at the drug house and saw him drive away in his grey Hyundai SUV. As Meadows travelled south through Conroe on the 1-45 service road, a marked Montgomery County Sheriff's Office unit attempted a traffic stop to arrest Meadows for his parole warrant. Meadows chose to flee and led police on a dangerous pursuit.

During rush hour traffic on a Friday evening, Meadows evaded police for 5 miles through the City of Conroe. In his attempt to escape from law enforcement, Meadows drove on the wrong side of the road, sped through three occupied gas stations, ran multiple stop signs and red lights, and fled through a neighborhood at over 60 miles per hour. At one point, Meadows ran a stop sign onto the 1-45 service road directly in front of a black Chevy pickup truck. At the last moment, the truck driver was able to swerve into the next lane and avoid a major crash. As more police began to join the pursuit and it became clear Meadows would not escape, he pulled over and gave himself up.

While conducting an inventory of Meadows' vehicle, a MOCONET narcotics detective noticed tool marks around a panel on the dashboard. Behind the panel, detectives discovered a pistol and substantial quantities of methamphetamine, heroin, ecstasy, and other narcotics. Detectives also seized approximately $1,900 in cash and numerous bags commonly used to package drugs for sale.

Montgomery County Assistant District Attorneys Taylor Vanegas and Lianne Baldridge presented the case to the jury. During the trial, the jury also heard evidence of Meadows' criminal history, including his two previous prison trips for drug dealing offenses. After an hour of deliberation, the jury found that Meadows' used his vehicle as a Deadly Weapon capable of causing serious bodily injury and death to the innocent citizens caught in Meadows' path. As a result, Meadows will have to serve half of his 45 year prison sentence before becoming eligible for parole. Meadows will be in prison until at least 2041.

Assistant District Attorney Taylor Vanegas: 'Today, there is one less drug dealer and habitual felon on our streets, and it's all thanks to the hard and tireless work of the Montgomery County Narcotics Enforcement Team. Officers like these who are willing to put themselves in harm's way make our community a safer and better place to live. For that, they have our sincerest gratitude.'


District Attorney Brett Ligon: 'The jury sent a loud and clear message to Marcus Meadows and anyone else who chooses to deal drugs and put innocent people in danger: Don't do it in Montgomery County.'