PORT ANGELES – A Port Angeles man has been sent to prison for seven years in a case that culminated with finding drugged puppies in the back of his car.

41-year-old Leroy Hampton was sentenced yesterday after pleading guilty to twelve counts of Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance, two counts of Delivery of a Controlled Substance, one count of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm in the Second Degree, one count of Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, and two counts of felony Animal Cruelty in the First Degree.

Hampton was arrested last November at the KOA campground on an unrelated matter. Investigators say a search of his truck and trailer turned up 117.5 grams of methamphetamine, 162 grams of heroin, 72 pills of fentanyl, 19 pieces of alprazolam, and 14 suboxone strips. A 2016 Polaris Rzr, confirmed to be stolen out of Pierce County, was also found in the bed of the truck.

Hampton posted bail and was released on the pending charges, but soon had further encounters with law enforcement. In January Hampton’s vehicle was pulled over by Port Angeles Police. A search of Hampton’s vehicle discovered 229.9 grams of heroin, 26.3 grams of methamphetamine, and 36 pills suspected to contain fentanyl, as well as suboxone strips, and OxyContin pills. Two puppies were found in the back seat of the vehicle. Both puppies had electrical tape bound around their muzzle and a urinalysis of the puppies indicated the presence of opiates in the puppies’ systems.

After completing his prison sentence, Hampton will be on Community Custody for twelve months. In addition, the Court imposed two victim assessment fees of $500 and a DNA Collection Fee of $100. At sentencing, Hampton expressed his apologies to his parents, Port Angeles, and Clallam County.