Waterbury man facing life sentence with latest drug charge

October 1, 2026  |  By Eric Blaisdell  |  The Times Argus

BARRE — A Waterbury man faces life in prison on his latest charges after the state added a habitual offender sentencing enhancement.

Shaka Joseph Africa, 36, pleaded not guilty Sept. 24 in Washington County criminal court in Barre to a felony count of cocaine possession and a misdemeanor count of violating conditions of release. Africa faces a maximum sentence of life in prison on the cocaine possession charge because of the habitual offender enhancement added because he has at least three prior felony convictions.

Court records show he was convicted of felony aggravated assault with a weapon in 2016, felony grand larceny in 2016, felony larceny from a person in 2016, felony escape from custody in 2012, and felony aggravated operation of a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent in 2009.

He was ordered held without bail, pending a weight-of-the-evidence hearing, and was housed at Northeast Correctional Complex in St. Johnsbury as of Wednesday.

Trooper Michael Maldonado, of the Vermont State Police, said in his affidavit a woman called police Sept. 23 to report there were people in a vehicle that was running for a while in a parking lot in Waterbury. Maldonado said he went to the scene and saw two people slumped over in the vehicle.

He said inside the vehicle, he saw a tray with a plastic bag that appeared to contain white powder.

Maldonado said Africa was identified as the person in the driver’s seat and had to be shaken to be woken up. He said Africa’s speech was slurred and unintelligible, and he appeared under the influence of substances.

Maldonado said he saw more drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle. He said the woman in the passenger’s seat reported she and Africa used cannabis the night before but denied using any other substances.

Maldonado said a records check showed Africa has conditions of release in place stating he cannot drive a vehicle, unless for verified purposes such as to treatment appointments or meetings with his attorney.

He said Africa’s eyes were bloodshot and watery. He said after he had Africa perform some field sobriety tests, Africa admitted he had used cocaine several hours earlier.

Maldonado said Africa did not give police permission to search the vehicle, so it was seized and a search warrant was obtained. He said multiple containers were located inside that appeared to store cocaine. He said the suspected cocaine field-tested positive and weighed 120 grams.

Africa has conditions of release in place because he pleaded not guilty in March to misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence and gross negligent operation. If convicted on those charges, he faces a maximum sentence of four years in prison.

In that case, police said a three-vehicle crash was reported in Berlin in January. Police said Africa was seen standing outside of his crashed vehicle and appeared injured.

Police said witnesses reported Africa was driving, and he reported he hadn’t used drugs and was on his way to treatment.

Police said a victim reported he was driving his truck on Route 62 when he saw Africa driving in the opposite lane.

The victim reported he noticed Africa was looking down, so the victim honked his horn, but Africa crossed the center line, drove into the victim’s lane, and crashed into his truck, according to court records.

Police said a witness reported seeing the crash and stated Africa “fell asleep or something” before the crash occurred.

Africa was taken to Central Vermont Medical Center for treatment for his injuries, according to court records. Police said Africa agreed to give a sample of his blood, which was sent to the Vermont Forensic Laboratory and showed Africa had cocaine and fentanyl in his system.