Charges have been filed against a Batesville man arrested earlier this month after an undercover operation. (Click here for the original story.)
Charged in Independence County Circuit Court is Jason William Laden (pictured), 43. Laden faces a charge of trafficking a controlled substance — methamphetamine. He is also being charged as a habitual offender, having previously been convicted of one or more felonies.
The court information said Laden was interviewed on Monday, Dec. 23, by members of the 16th Judicial District Drug Task Force. An Arkansas State Police Special Agent also sat in on the interview.
The court documents said during the course of that interview, Laden admitted he had been selling methamphetamine for approximately 20 years. He said the meth that he was caught selling on Dec. 18 (the day of Laden’s arrest) arrived via FedEx from California. He said it came through a “middle man,” and he did not know the identification of the person or persons in California.
Laden said he had received approximately two-and-a-half pounds in a single shipment.
Authorities say they later found approximately one-and-a-half pounds of meth hidden on Laden’s property, according to court information.
Laden’s bond was set by Judge Chaney Taylor at $250,000.
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