Country singer Johnny Rodriguez facing drug charges in Oklahoma

6/20/2007

PURCELL, Okla. Singer Johnny Rodriguez, who topped the country-music charts in the 1970s, has been charged with three felony drug counts.

Blanchard police stopped Rodriguez on Friday on a complaint of speeding, according to a court affidavit filed with the charges.

Officers then found what they believed to be bags of marijuana, methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and an open container of beer in his pickup truck, court papers said.

Rodriguez was charged with felony counts of possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of marijuana and driving under the influence of drugs.

The 55-year-old Laredo, Texas, resident also was charged with possession of paraphernalia, a misdemeanor. He was released from the McClain County jail Saturday on $6,500 bail.

Rodriguez had six No. 1 hits on the country charts in the 1970s, including I Just Can t Get Her Out of My Mind, Love Put a Song in My Heart and That s the Way Love Goes.

According to his tour schedule, Rodriguez was supposed to sing at the Old West Fest in Sperry on Friday night, but event organizers said he didn t make it.

He is due back in McClain County court July 18 for a preliminary hearing conference.

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