Tacoma jaywalker, drug dealer gets 20 years

A man who skipped out on a court date in Tacoma for drug possession was not so fortunate after his second arrest.

Tacoma police stopped Titus Peterson in January 2010 for jaywalking. He was arrested for trying to ditch two baggies of crack cocaine. He failed to appear for a court date.

In October 2012, police arrested Peterson again after finding more cocaine in his car during a traffic stop. Searches of his home and storage unit turned up cash, drugs, and guns.

Last October, in a bench trial, a federal judge convicted Peterson on multiple charges, including conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, being a felon in possession of a firearm and witness tampering.

At sentencing Monday, U.S. District Judge Benjamin Settle commented that Peterson, 34, appeared unable to change his life and sentenced him to 20 years in prison.