Thief River Falls (trfnews.i234.me) — A Thief River Falls man has been sentenced after a meth baggie was found at a local grocery store.
Court records say 47-year-old Ricky Jourdain, of Thief River Falls, was sentenced on an amended felony charge. The charge was fifth-degree possession of a Schedule I, II, III, or IV drug or drug paraphernalia with residue, not cannabis or hemp.
The judge ordered a 12-month prison sentence. The sentence will be served at the same time as a sentence in another case. Jourdain received credit for 75 days already served in custody.
As part of the sentence, Jourdain may no longer use or possess firearms, ammunition, or explosives at any time in his life. He must also provide a DNA sample for the state’s database and pay $210 in court fees and fines.
The case started with an April 10 report at Hugos Family Marketplace in Thief River Falls. A customer at the store’s self-checkout area found a small baggie with a crystal-like substance in the change dispenser. She informed store staff, who contacted police.
According to the complaint, investigators later reviewed store surveillance video. The video showed Jourdain at the self-checkout buying prune juice. As he reached into the pocket of his sweatshirt, a baggie fell from the pocket into the change dispenser. The complaint says he appeared unaware that anything had dropped.
The time stamp on the video was about 33 minutes before store staff called the police. Another customer used the self-checkout at that time but did not go near the change dispenser. A short time later, the reporting customer stepped to the register and found the baggie.
Investigators say the substance tested presumptively positive for methamphetamine. In its original packaging, the baggie weighed about 0.6 grams.
After the store visit, a police investigator and Jourdain’s probation officer went to his home. They spoke with his mother, who said Jourdain had gone to Hugo’s to buy juice for her.
Minnesota drug crimes are charged under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 152, which covers controlled substances and related offenses. Readers can review general information on criminal cases through the Minnesota Court Records Online system.
Hugo’s operates a grocery store in Thief River Falls, part of a family-owned chain with locations in Minnesota and North Dakota. More information about the store can be found on the company’s website.
For a broader explanation of Minnesota drug possession laws and controlled substance schedules, readers may consult legal resources that explain state drug statutes and plain-language guides from Minnesota criminal defense attorneys.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.