Loyalist faces drugs charges in California

The brother of a prominent Portadown loyalist appeared in a California courtroom on Thursday facing charges of possession of …

The brother of a prominent Portadown loyalist appeared in a California courtroom on Thursday facing charges of possession of marijuana for sale and possession of cannabis.

Mr William James Fulton, the brother of loyalist Mark "Swinger" Fulton, was held on $100,000 bail. The Riverside County deputy district attorney, Mr Quinn Baranski, said prosecutors believed Mr Fulton was a danger to the community because he was associated with the Loyalist Volunteer Force.

Mr Fulton was arrested with his wife, Tanya, and three others on December 16th after police were called to the house where they were staying.

Police were investigating reports of gunfire and claim to have found at least a dozen weapons inside the house. They also discovered six ounces of hashish.

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A report by a local television station said the police had also discovered an inert rocket launcher and inert grenades inside the house.

Mr Fulton and his wife have another pre-trial hearing on January 26th, prosecutors said.