(KIWA Staff Photo)Sheldon, Iowa — A Sheldon man has been arrested on a felony contraband charge after he was allegedly found in possession of cocaine in the O’Brien County Jail.
A criminal complaint filed by the Sheldon Police Department in district court accuses 24-year-old Emerson Rocha Ponce of Sheldon of the crime. He was arrested on Sunday.
In his statement, the officer says Rocha Ponce’s car was originally stopped for an equipment violation in Sheldon. The officer says he allegedly smelled marijuana. The statement also mentions open containers of alcohol in the vehicle, and says Rocha Ponce admitted to drinking and using marijuana a few hours before the stop.
At that point, he was charged with misdemeanor counts of operating under the influence, possession of drug paraphernalia, open container, no valid driver’s license, and possession of a controlled substance, and was taken to jail in Primghar. But when he was booked in, the officer says they found him to be in possession of cocaine. If convicted of that charge, he could face up to five years in prison.
A preliminary hearing has been set for October 8th.
At last report, Rocha Ponce remained in the O’Brien County Jail in Primghar in lieu of bond.
