Donald Sharma, former owner of Stop N Go Mini Mart near Dawson Park was sentenced to 13 months in prison on July 1, after pleading guilty to one count of unlawful delivery of heroin in substantial quantities. On October 2, he will be sentenced on a second count of attempted unlawful delivery of fentanyl in substantial quantities.
In the spring of 2025 Sharma was arrested at his store across the street from the park after community members came forward to the Portland Police Bureau in March 2024 with allegations of criminal behavior associated with the market. As a result, North Precinct’s Neighborhood Response Team (NRT), launched what turned out to be a year-long investigation into the Stop N Go mini-mart located at 2858 N. Williams Ave.
The sentencing hearing started with a conference between the Judge, Christopher Marshall, Sharma, the defense attorney, Steven Sherlag, and the prosecuting attorney, Glen Banfield. Sharma pled guilty to both counts of heroine delivery and fentanyl delivery. In addition to the 13-month sentence, he will have 2 years of post-prison supervision. The prosecutor requested that Sharma be required to stay at least 150 ft. away from the convenience store and Dawson Park during the supervision period.
After the hearing, the prosecutor, senior deputy district attorney, Banfield, said, “The community saw what was going on and reported it to Portland Police. This is important to the health and safety of the Eliot neighborhood especially in a place where families and children gather, Dawson Park. This sentencing takes a serious drug dealer off the street.”
To see an April 2025 story on the arrest of Sharma, see “Mini mart near Dawson Park Busted.”