Asheville Man Sentenced to Min 7.5 Years
By Staff Writer | Published 2026-03-30T19:33:44.513Z
News
Location: Asheville, Buncombe County, NC
West Asheville drug bust leads to sentencing in fentanyl case. Community complaints key to arrest of Heath Thomas C. Rice. Read more!
Asheville -- March 30, 2026: An Asheville man, Heath Thomas C. Rice, 46, pleaded guilty to the following charges:Trafficking in Opium or Heroin (Class F)Possession of a Stolen FirearmPossession of a Firearm by a FelonFelony Breaking and EnteringMisdemeanor Larceny$750,00 FineBuncombe County Superior Court before the Honorable Judge Alan Thornburg. Rice was sentenced to a mandatory minimum of 90 months and a maximum of 120 months in the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction.The charges s
Keywords: West Asheville drug bust, fentanyl trafficking, Heath Thomas C. Rice, drug arrest, Asheville crime, community policing, illegal firearms, drug enforcement