Jacob Steven Jovanovic, 38, of Crystal City recently had his probation revoked and was sentenced to seven years in prison. He had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a controlled substance as a prior and persistent offender, according to court documents.
Jefferson County Judge Travis D. Partney on Dec. 4 revoked Jovanovic’s probation and executed the previously suspended sentences Jovanovic had received in February. He was sentenced to seven years in prison for each count, with the sentences running concurrently, or at the same time.
Lindsay E. Whalen, Jefferson County assistant prosecuting attorney, prosecuted the case.
According to the probable-cause statement, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office conducted a surveillance operation on Jan. 19, 2023, on a residence that was believed to be used for drug trafficking. During surveillance, Jovanovic left the residence in a Honda CR-V and drove to the ZX gas station at 2854 Hwy. 67 outside Festus.
Officers arrested him for a no-bond warrant for a parole violation and found him in possession of bags that contained capsules and crystal material that appeared to be controlled substances, the report said.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol later identified the substances as 10.75 grams of methamphetamine and 0.0579 grams of a fentanyl/methamphetamine mixture, the report said.