Austin Riggins sentenced to 23 years for drugs

A federal judge in Fort Worth sentenced an Olney man to nearly 23 years in prison March 24 for possessing 51 grams of methamphetamine and other drug paraphernalia while parked outside Stewart’s Grocery store last November.

Austin Carl Thomas Riggins, 34, pleaded guilty Nov. 19 to one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 5 grams or more of methamphetamine. The charge carried a possible sentence of up to 40 years in federal prison.

On March 31, 2021, Olney police were called to the parking lot of Stewart’s Food Store about a man sleeping in his car with the engine running at about 11:30 a.m., according to court documents.

Olney Police Chief Dan Birbeck testified during a hearing in the case in November that he recognized Riggins and was aware of his long criminal history, including a history of drug distribution, according to court documents.

Birbeck told the Enterprise that he was “pleased with the judge’s decision on the sentencing.”

“Cases that can be taken to federal court will be, and we are going to continue to work narcotics distribution cases in Olney,” Birbeck said.

Riggins could not be reached for comment.

After arriving on the scene, Birbeck and Officer Joe Logan found Riggins unresponsive in the driver’s seat and called emergency medical technicians to the scene. Riggins awoke and exited the vehicle for questioning. Birbeck testified that during the questioning, the driver’s side door of the car was open, and he could see a set of scales of a type used to measure drugs in the door’s storage pocket, court documents said.

EMT DaLayna Riddle spotted a syringe in Riggins’ coat pocket while treating him for apparent intoxication and called Birbeck’s attention to it, court documents said. Birbeck searched Riggins and found a baggie containing 51 grams of methamphetamine.

U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman denied Riggins’ attempt to suppress the evidence recovered in that search last November. Riggins subsequently pleaded guilty.

Pittman recommended that Riggins be incarcerated at a facility as close to Olney as possible and that he be allowed to participate in the residential drug treatment program, vocational training classes.