By David Heiller

Argus News Editor

Houston County authorities have made three drug-related arrests in recent weeks.

Kobi Maria Connor, 20, La Crosse, was charged on February 2 with sale of crack cocaine in La Crescent.

John Dale Ryan III, 37, La Crescent, was also charged on February 5 with selling marijuana/hashish.

Edward Jones, 31, of La Crosse, was charged on February 5 with selling crack cocaine in La Crescent.

ìWeíre expecting more charges coming down on another individual,î Houston County Sheriffís Department Chief Deputy Ken Frank said on February 11.

The sheriffís department is also working on a complaint against two Caledonia juveniles, ages 16 and 17, for selling marijuana to an informant on more than one occasion.

The arrests are part of an operation that the department has been doing for about six months, Frank said.

Connor faces four charges in her case, including two felonies for sale of a controlled substance, and one felony count of theft. According to her criminal complaint, she agreed to sell cocaine to a confidential informant and his ìfriend,î who was actually investigator John DeGeorge of the Fillmore County Sheriffís Office. They met in the parking lot of a La Crescent business on February 1, then Connor and DeGeorge drove to a side street in separate vehicles. De George allegedly gave her $200 in marked bills, and she said she would go get the cocaine. He got out of her car. She sped away, and was arrested a short time later. She was taken to Winona County Jail, and was charged on February 2 in Third District Court in Caledonia. She was release on $5,000 bail. Her next court date has not been set. Her attorney is Gregory Schultz, Caledonia.

Ryan was charged with fourth degree sale of a controlled substance for being within 300 feet of a public park. It carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in jail and or $100,000 fine. He was also charged with fifth degree sale of a controlled substance.

Houston County Sheriffís Department Lieutenant Tracie Erickson arrested him at about 11 p.m. on February 4 after Ryan allegedly sold 8.7 grams of marijuana for $60 to DeGeorge in the parking lot of a La Crescent bar. Erickson made the arrest after recording the alleged sale from an unmarked vehicle nearby.

Ryan posted $25,000 bail on February 5 and was released from the Houston County Jail. His next court appearance is March 9 at 10:15 a.m. His public defender is Ross Phelps of La Crescent.

Ryanís case also involves confiscation of cash and forfeiture of his vehicle. More charges are expected in the case, Frank said.

Jones was arrested on February 5 and charged with two counts of sale of a controlled substance, both felonies; possession of a controlled substance, a felony; and endangerment of a child, a gross misdemeanor. He was released on February 8 on $40,000 bail.

His criminal complaint states that a criminal informant from Winona County was told by a woman that she would sell him some crack cocaine in Winona. She changed her mind and told the informant to go to her home in La Crescent. He went to her home, and allegedly bought crack cocaine for $100 there from Edward Jones. The woman was not there, and later told authorities she did not know about the sale of the drugs. There were two children in the home at the time of the alleged drug sale.

Jones will next appear in district court on February 22. His public defender is Samuel Jandt, la Crescent.

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