A Carthage man is facing a drug-related felony charge in Saline County.

According to a report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, on June 28, a trooper obtained a search warrant from Jasper County Circuit Court to ping the cell phone of Chase Johnson after receiving information that Johnson would be traveling to Colorado to transport marijuana back to Missouri. The ping was monitored over several days, and on July 5, the trooper observed Johnson’s cell phone traveling back toward Missouri. At approximately 2 a.m. on July 6, a trooper observed a vehicle displaying Colorado registration that traveled from eastbound I-70 onto northbound U.S. Highway 65. The vehicle was traveling closely behind another vehicle.

The two vehicles were later located near a residence in the 600 block of North Franklin Avenue in Marshall. A trooper observed Johnson exit the vehicle carrying a suitcase. The trooper approached Johnson, who admitted there was marijuana in the suitcase. A probable-cause search revealed seven vacuum-sealed bags of marijuana. Johnson allegedly admitted to making multiple trips transporting marijuana from Colorado to Missouri during a post-Miranda interview. The weight of the marijuana in the suitcase was 3.89 pounds.

Johnson has been charged with a Class C Felony for Delivery of a Controlled Substance. Johnson posted $10,000 surety bond on August 10, 2020.

Johnson was initially arraigned on August 18, 2020. His case was bound over to the Trial Division of the Circuit Court on January 6, 2021 for arraignment at 1:15 p.m. on Monday, February 8, 2021 at Saline County Circuit Court.