JACKSON TEEN FACES OVER 20 YEARS ON DRUG CHARGES

JACKSON -- A 19-year-old Jackson man was found guilty of possessing a variety of illegal drugs, which could result in a prison sentence of over 20 years, the Cape Girardeau County prosecutor's office said.

"Sometimes it's hard to believe we have drug dealers this young and who are of this large-scale caliber in our community," said Angel Woodruff, assistant county prosecutor.

Justin A. Hercik of 105 South West Lane was found guilty of felony possession of cocaine salts with the intent to distribute, felony possession of LSD, misdemeanor possession of marijuana and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

A six-man, six-woman jury gave a guilty verdict after 40 minutes of deliberation.

Patrolman Rick Whitaker of Jackson testified that he and Cape Girardeau police officer Bill Bohnert found over 50 grams of cocaine salts when they conducted a search of Hercik's residence on Sept. 11. It appeared that this pure form of cocaine had been cut directly off a kilogram brick of the substance, police said.

Police also discovered a plastic candy bottle containing liquid LSD and just under a gram of marijuana scattered in a bedroom.

The drug paraphernalia included pipes, a bong, baggies and weighing scales.

Hercik was scheduled to be sentenced by Judge William Syler on April 3.

He is free on a bond of $30,000.