PENNINGTON COUNTY, MN (trfnews.i234.me) – A man from Oklee, Minnesota, has been charged with first-degree sale of a controlled substance. Rodney Arlan Smith, 58, faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted.
According to court documents, Smith was arrested in July after selling an ounce of cocaine to undercover Pennington County law enforcement for $2,000. The probable cause statement filed in the case states that the cocaine weighed approximately 30.3 grams and had been packaged accordingly.
During the meeting with the undercover officers, Smith allegedly told them that he dealt in smaller amounts, so if they wanted more, they’d need to arrange that with the man who drove him to the scene – Zachariah John Howard.
Both men were arrested after the exchange. Howard, 22, is charged with aiding and abetting a first-degree controlled substance sale. He had his initial appearance earlier and is scheduled for an omnibus hearing at 2 p.m. Nov. 4.
Smith’s omnibus hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. Dec. 9. If convicted of the crime, Smith could face significant prison time under Minnesota sentencing guidelines, which recommend between 65 and 125 months in prison. However, he faces up to 30 years if convicted at trial. The case will continue to unfold as more information becomes available.