Former Scott County deputy Ivan Norman Brant Jr. has pleaded guilty to a charge of illegally possessing or selling testosterone.

Brant, 37, of Scott City was sentenced last week to five years of probation and ordered to pay court costs totaling $506.50.

Brant was charged in May with felony possession of a controlled substance after a monthslong investigation by the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force. He originally pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The task force began investigating Brant and former Scott City police officer Samuel J. Lincoln, 26, of Whitewater after a Jackson police officer filed a report that Lincoln offered to sell him testosterone.

Brant was removed from the Scott County Sheriff's Department payroll roster by Jan. 24. Lincoln was shown to be an employee of the Scott City Police Department for the week of Dec. 29 through Jan. 11, but did not appear on the roster after that week.

Probable-cause statements by Missouri State Highway patrolman Jay R. Holcomb state that Lincoln told the officer he could sell the officer some testosterone for $200 and "that the testosterone would assist with quickly achieving a fit appearance."

After the Jackson officer filed the report, a recorded phone call was arranged for the sale of the testosterone, according to a statement. On Jan. 22, the officer contacted Lincoln and was told the testosterone was available and he would sell it to the officer for $200.

Holcomb then contacted Lincoln to conduct an interview in which Lincoln said he knew testosterone was a controlled substance and that he had previously purchased and used the drug, according to court documents. Lincoln also admitted to planning the sale to the Jackson officer, Holcomb wrote.

During the interview, Lincoln placed a call to Brant to set up a meeting at the Rhodes Travel Center in Scott City. There, Brant provided Lincoln with the testosterone and Lincoln gave Brant $200 in return, according to the statement filed in the case against Brant.

Lincoln was charged with felony distribution of a controlled substance, according to court documents. If convicted, he could serve five to 15 years in prison. He is scheduled to appear in a Cape Girardeau County court Aug. 25 for a preliminary hearing.

skluesner@semissourian.com

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