Atmore man in a stolen car leads to multiple charges

An Atmore man pulled over driving a stolen vehicle saw charges mount after officers found drugs and three fake identifications.

John Kenneth Hovance, 52, 600 Freemanville Drive, was charged with receiving stolen property I, two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and three counts of possession of a forged instrument.

According to information provided by the Atmore Police Department, about 6:25 p.m. on Feb. 8, officers were alerted to be on the lookout for a stolen vehicle that had recently been seen in the Freemanville area.

Officers responded and spotted the vehicle on Freemanville Drive and initiated a traffic stop with Hovance being the only occupant. Court records described the vehicle as 1989 gold Land Rover with a value of $40,000.

Police reported when officers asked Hovance for his identification, he provided a fake identification card.

Court records show Hovance was in possession of two fake driver's licenses that included his photograph but other names from California and one with his photograph from Georgia.

Atmore police reported the temporary tag attached to the vehicle belonged to another vehicle and the Vehicle Identification Number confirmed the vehicle had been reported stolen from the Little Rock, Ark., Police Department. Officers also discovered Hovance had outstanding warrants for his arrest in Escambia County, Fla.

When officers searched the vehicle and Hovance, they discovered a plastic baggie in his clothing containing 3 grams of a substance that tested positive for methamphetamine and 2.5 grams of a substance that tested positive for meth.

Officers also reported finding two glass pipes that contained meth residue and torch lighters.

Hovance was transported to the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton and during a hearing before District Judge Eric Coale was given a $150,000 bond.