From Staff Reports
A Poplar Bluff man has been convicted of felony drug trafficking.
Kenny Jackson, 34, was found guilty Thursday by a Butler County jury on three felony counts, said Butler County Prosecuting Attorney Kacey L. Proctor. The charges included the class A felony of trafficking a controlled substance in the first degree, the Class B felony of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and the Class D felony of unlawful possession of a firearm.
The case was tried by Proctor in front of 36th Judicial Circuit Presiding Circuit Judge Michael Pritchett.
“Prior to the presentation of evidence in the case, Judge Michael Pritchett found that Kenny Jackson was a persistent drug offender as well as a persistent felony offender,” Proctor said in a press release. As a result, Jackson is subject to enhanced ranges of punishment totaling up to 65 years. Sentencing is set for Sept. 6, in front of Pritchett.
The current case dates back to a search warrant that was served March 8, 2016, by the SEMO Drug Task Force at Jackson’s Dewey Street residence.
Four witnesses were called by the prosecution, said Proctor.
Lt. Joshua Stewart, a 15-year veteran with the Poplar Bluff Police Department, testified he was the first officer to enter the residence on Dewey Street and that he immediately saw Jackson, who he recognized from prior law enforcement-related contacts, run toward the bathroom in the residence, Proctor said.
“Lt. Stewart testified that he pursued Jackson and caught him coming out the bathroom after having flushed the toilet,” he explained. “Lt. Stewart then told the jury that he and other officers removed the toilet from the bathroom and found 56 grams of methamphetamine in the pipe below the toilet.
Investigator Jason Morgan, a 20-year veteran with the SEMO Drug Task Force, testified his primary role was to process the crime scene. He further testified that he found five different bags of methamphetamine in the house totaling over 150 grams and three containers of marijuana totaling over 40 grams, Proctor said. He also located three firearms and United States currency totaling over $3,000. The jury was able to watch Morgan’s body worn camera footage of the execution of this search warrant.
Investigator Scott Johnston, a 23-year veteran with the SEMO Drug Task Force, testified he collected all of the evidence in the case and sent the drugs to the Missouri State Highway Patrol Crime Law to be analyzed.
“The Butler County jury, in this case, heard approximately five hours of evidence and deliberated for 53 minutes before reaching guilty verdicts on all three counts,” Proctor said.