Freeburg man charged with drug possession

A Freeburg man has been charged with possession of drugs with intent to distribute them in Cole County.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Joseph Houser, 35, was being held on $100,000 bond in the Cole County Jail.

A Jefferson City Police Department probable cause statement shows on Tuesday evening, officers conducted a traffic stop at West Main Street and Bolivar Street on a vehicle driven by Houser.

Officers searched Houser’s vehicle due to his past history with controlled substances and having seen him leaving the scene of a residence that was suspected of use and sale of controlled substances prior to his being stopped.

Houser was seen trying to conceal a black pouch in the console of the vehicle.

A small plastic baggie containing marijuana was found in Houser’s pants pocket, as was as $1,486 in cash in his wallet.

A further search of the vehicle found the black pouch in the console contained a vial with a white crystal-like substance found to be methamphetamine, a plastic baggie with a substance believed to be methamphetamine and another baggie of marijuana. Also in the console was a scale and two notepad ledgers.

When questioned, Houser admitted to possession of marijuana but said the money was from his paycheck, and the crystal substance was not methamphetamine. He did say he uses methamphetamine and last used about a week ago.

Houser had been out on bond for another drug distribution offense.