Mayfield indicted for meth possession, owes nearly $100,000 in back taxes

Former NASCAR racer Jeremy Mayfield was indicted on one count of possession of methamphetamine Monday afternoon.

Mayfield, 42, was initially arrested Nov. 1 after Sgt. Aaron Turk with the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office received information from an unnamed source. The source said Mayfield and several acquaintances went to five businesses and stole several items, according to a search warrant. The source said the items from those break-ins could be found on Mayfield’s 388-acre property on Hudson Chapel Road.

During the search of Mayfield’s home in Catawba, investigators found more than $100,000 worth of goods, including scrap metal, a chassis jig, an engraving machine, sound equipment, Red Bull Racing apparel and other items that were reported stolen from several businesses in Lincoln and Iredell counties. The businesses were broken into in 2010 and early 2011.

Investigators also found 1.5 grams of methamphetamine inside a safe in Mayfield’s home. A meth pipe was found in a truck trailer next to Mayfield’s home.

Mayfield was indicted Monday on one count of methamphetamine for the 1.5 grams that was found in his home, with the indictment stating the offense happened on Nov. 1, the day investigators searched his home.

Catawba County Sheriff Coy Reid said the investigation into Mayfield is not over.

“We’re looking at breaking-and-entering and larcenies in Catawba County,” Reid said.

He is looking for possible connections Mayfield may have to open cases.

“Our investigation is not even halfway through,” Reid said.

The Catawba County Sheriff’s Office still has the more than 75 weapons it seized from Mayfield’s home. Reid said they are checking the serial numbers to ensure none of the guns are stolen.

In addition to Mayfield’s legal troubles, he is also in financial trouble with the county. He owes almost $100,000 to Catawba County in delinquent taxes on the nearly 400 acres where he lives, as well as two other lots he owns. He has until Jan. 5, 2012, to pay 2011 property taxes, as well.

According to the Catawba County tax office, Mayfield and his wife, Shana, have not paid property tax on the 388-acre compound he owns in Catawba in 2009 or 2010.

On the property, there is a small tract of land that is separate, but is still owned by Mayfield. The five-acre plot has the home the Mayfields live in. Mayfield owes about $43,570 in back taxes for this property, according to the tax office. For the larger piece of land, Mayfield owes about $35,700. The taxes are larger on the smaller piece of land because of the house.

The Mayfields also own two empty lots on Bolton Road in Catawba. They owe about $810 in delinquent taxes for 2009 and 2010 on one lot, and about $660 on the other lot.

The couple owes about $700 in taxes this year on the two lots. They owe another $7,970 on the tract of land with the house, and $22,570 on the large acreage of land surrounding the house, according to Catawba County tax record. Interest will begin collecting on Jan. 6.

The former NASCAR driver has had a rocky few years. In May 2009, NASCAR suspended Mayfield after saying he tested positive for methamphetamine. Mayfield denied using the drug, saying the results of the random drug test were the result of the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder drug Adderall and the allergy drug Claritin-D.

Since then, Mayfield held an auction of many of his own possessions in November 2009. He most recently landed in the news in April, after some of his pit bull/Labrador retriever mix dogs bit a postal carrier who delivered a package that was too big to fit in his mailbox.

After the dogs attacked the carrier, Mayfield heard the commotion and shouted at the dogs. He brought the carrier into his home and called 911. The mail carrier sustained bites all over her legs and shoulders and had to be hospitalized.