Mahnomen Man Faces Felony School-Zone Drug Charge

Mahnomen (trfnews.i234.me) — Vernon Lee Jackson faces a felony drug charge in Mahnomen County District Court.

Prosecutors allege Jackson possessed cocaine and methamphetamine near Mahnomen Public High School.

The alleged offense happened on August 14, 2026, during a traffic stop in Mahnomen.

Jackson was a passenger in the stopped vehicle, according to the criminal complaint.

The felony charge carries up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Traffic Stop Near High School

Law enforcement stopped a vehicle around 9:35 p.m. near Mahnomen Public High School.

The complaint says the vehicle made a short left turn into the opposing traffic lane.

Authorities also reported that a third brake light was not working.

Charles Louis Senogles was identified as the driver.

Jackson was seated in the front passenger seat.

A female passenger was also inside the vehicle.

Investigators eventually searched the vehicle after Senogles was arrested during a separate DWI investigation.

During the search, police found a small brown glass jar near the center console.

The jar contained a white powdery substance, according to the complaint.

A field test indicated the substance was cocaine.

Investigators also found a black bag on the front passenger floorboard.

The bag contained drug paraphernalia and several paper bindles.

A yellow bindle allegedly tested positive for methamphetamine.

Additional bindles were found inside the passenger-side door handle.

Police collected the items as evidence.

Senogles denied that the drugs belonged to him, according to the complaint.

Jackson later gave investigators an explanation for the items found near him.

He said Senogles handed him a handful of items during the stop.

Jackson said Senogles told him to hide them.

Jackson admitted placing the items inside the main pocket of his bag, prosecutors allege.

The criminal complaint does not report final laboratory results for the substances.

The charge is based partly on the location and the alleged controlled substances.

Jackson is charged under Minnesota Statute 152.023.

The statute covers several third-degree controlled-substance crimes.

It includes certain possession offenses occurring within school zones.

The case is State of Minnesota v. Vernon Lee Jackson.

The court file number is 44-CR-26-476 in Minnesota’s Ninth Judicial District.

Public case information is available through Minnesota Court Records Online.

The criminal complaint contains allegations and does not establish Jackson’s guilt.

Jackson is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.