Charges: convicted drug dealer found with half-pound of pot

A convicted Woodbury drug dealer was arrested in February after police found a suspected half-pound of marijuana in a vehicle he was driving.

The man, 21-year-old Justin Allen Hanson, was charged with fifth-degree drug possession, a felony. Another man in the vehicle, 21-year-old Jawan Demar Burt – also of Woodbury – was charged with one count of felony aiding and abetting drug possession.

Hanson was convicted in January 2012 of fifth-degree marijuana sales and was sentenced to 15 days in jail and five years on probation. In that case, Hanson was arrested after his neighbors chronicled in detail more than 100 short-term visits to his residence. After a surveillance operation outside his residence turned up additional evidence against him, Hanson admitted to police that he sold pot to friends.

According to the latest charges, police were called Feb. 24 to the Super America on Woodlane Drive for a suspicious situation involving a person possibly stalking a worker there. While at the gas station, officers saw the suspected vehicle return, being driven by Hanson, who it was learned had an outstanding firearms-related warrant for his arrest.

Burt also had a warrant for his arrest, according to a complaint filed against him.

Police smelled burnt marijuana in the vehicle and performed a search, which turned up alleged paraphernalia and two heat-sealed packages of pot, the complaint states.

The combined weight of the packages was about one-half pound, according to the complaint.

Acting on additional evidence recovered at the scene, police executed a search warrant on Burt’s Quarry Ridge Lane residence. According to a police report, no additional charges resulted from the search.

Hanson was released from Washington County jail on bail that called for $10,000 with conditions or $25,000 without conditions. His next court hearing is April 10.

Tags: crime and courts, news, crime