Jacob Steven Jovanovic, 38, of Crystal City allegedly was found with multiple pills and a crystal-like substance, which both tested positive as methamphetamine, after a Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office deputy stopped a vehicle that he was traveling in near Festus, court documents show.
The Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office on June 16 charge Jovanovic with second-degree drug trafficking, a class B felony, and possession of a controlled substance, a class D felony. The Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has asked the court to consider the trafficking charge a class A felony, punishable by 10 to 30 years or life in prison, and the possession charge a class B felony, which carries a penalty of five to 15 years in prison, because Jovanovic is a prior offender, court records show.
Jovanovic was found guilty of two possession of controlled substance charges in May 2021, and he was found guilty of a different possession charge in February 2020, according to court documents.
He was arrested on June 22, and he was released on a $75,000 cash-only bond on June 24 from the Jefferson County Jail in Hillsboro, court records said.
According to the case’s probable-cause statement, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office detectives on Feb. 13 were conducting surveillance on a vehicle parked outside the Mobil On the Run gas station, 620 S. Truman Blvd., in Festus. Jovanovic, who left the convenience store carrying two beverage cups, got into the vehicle.
The detectives stopped the vehicle after it was driven away from the gas station. One of the detectives allegedly found a bag containing 22 capsules and another bag with a crystal-like substance in one of the cups, the report said.