Clovis man sentenced on drug charges

A Clovis man was sentenced to nine years in prison Thursday on felony drug charges.

Melvin Payton, 31, was found guilty of possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute, a second-degree felony.

Payton was arrested Feb. 4 on the possession charges. According to a release from the district attorney’s office, Payton had 3.4 grams of crack cocaine on his person, two more bags in his vehicle and $444 in cash.

Payton’s prison term will be followed by two additional years of supervised parole.