A Hickory man will spend five to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to drug and firearm charges during Catawba County Superior Court on Wednesday, March 20, 2026.
Derek Scott Frenceschini, 42, was given the active term by the Honorable Nathaniel J. Poovey, Superior Court Judge from Catawba County, after entering guilty pleas to possession with intent to manufacture, sell, deliver methamphetamine and fentanyl, and possession of a firearm by a felon.
The defendant will serve his period of incarceration in custody of the North Carolina Division of Adult Corrections.
During a traffic stop on June 14, 2025, a K-9 unit alerted to the presence of drugs in a vehicle driven by Frenceschini, who did not have a valid driver’s license and was operating the vehicle with a revoked registration.
A search produced multiple types of powder-like substances of varying colors along with pills and other drug paraphernalia in the vehicle. A loaded Glock 9-millimeter handgun and additional magazine were found under the driver’s seat.
Frenceschini previously had been convicted of felony possession of cocaine in Surry County in April 2004.
The defendant also had active warrants for his arrest when he was recognized in a convenience store by a Hickory police officer on July 24, 2025. He was placed under arrest, and clear bags of fentanyl were found in his possession and in a book bag he was wearing.
Frenceschini told officers he was planning to sell the drugs to someone at that location.
Benjamin Coffey handled investigation of the cases for Hickory Police Department. Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Greer prosecuted the matter for the State with aid from Legal Assistant Stacey London.