Iowa man pleads guilty to drug charge

Published 10:36 am Thursday, October 27, 2016

An Iowa City, Iowa, man originally charged with first-degree cocaine possession pleaded guilty to a third-degree charge Wednesday in Freeborn County District Court.

Justin Forrest Rush, 34, faces sentencing Jan. 12.

Justin Rush

Justin Rush

Rush was charged after he reportedly had more than 30 grams of the drug at Harmony Park in late May.

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According to court documents, Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office deputies were patrolling the area when they were alerted by a security guard that Rush was trying to get into Harmony Park with a bag that he would not allow them to search.

The security guard said Rush stated he had cocaine in the bag.

Rush reportedly told a deputy that he had cocaine in the bag and showed a Tupperware container with several bags containing a white powdery substance.

In one of the containers, there was reportedly a bag with the substance that field tested positive for cocaine and weighed 15.93 grams. Several other bags were also reportedly located. The total weight of all of the bags containing the substance was reportedly 33.03 grams, according to court records.

Third-degree cocaine possession carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Rush faces a presumptive probationary sentence.

About Sam Wilmes

Sam Wilmes covers crime, courts and government for the Albert Lea Tribune.

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