by Wesley Harris
A vending machine in the carport of a West Monroe home wasn’t stocked with soft drinks or snacks, investigators say—it was allegedly selling drugs to neighborhood children.
Narcotics officers have arrested a West Monroe man after receiving information that kids were reportedly purchasing drugs from the machine.
Jonathan Coburn, 35, of West Monroe, was arrested July 28 for numerous drug and weapons charges after complaints from parents that their children were obtaining various drugs from a vending machine in Coburn’s Arlington Drive carport earlier in the month.
According to an arrest affidavit, “multiple parents” told narcotics agents their children were obtaining THC vapes, THC gummies, mushroom candy bars, and other similar items from a vending machine.
Agents of the Metro Narcotics Unit of Ouachita Parish went to the residence on July 1 and found a refrigerated vending machine full of illegal controlled substances inside of the open air carport. The vending machine was in good working order and displayed the price per each unit of drug, according to authorities. For example, one disposable THC vape was listed at $35.
Residents on the premises were determined to be Coburn’s mother and juvenile son. After interviews, a search warrant was obtained and executed for the home. During the search, agents located large amounts of THC vapes, large amounts of marijuana, large amounts of THC gummies, mushroom candy bars, a large variety of drug paraphernalia, one money counter, drug ledgers, two firearms, ammunition, money bands, banking information, two metal safes, etc. The resident was unable to provide a key or code for the two metal safes.
The suspect, Jonathan Coburn, was not home and would not cooperate by cellular phone. According to the affidavit, Coburn resides at the residence with his mother and juvenile son.
The arrest affidavit noted Coburn’s criminal history includes consists of a number of drug arrests, burglary, firearm crimes, sexual crimes with adult/juvenile involvement, and that he is a convicted felon. Coburn was convicted of a methamphetamine charge where he received probation from May 2, 2013 to May 2, 2018.
Coburn was booked at the Ouachita Correctional Center for two counts of possession of firearm by a convicted felon, violation of uniform controlled dangerous substances law–drug-free, two counts of illegal possession of a firearm in the presence of narcotics, possession of controlled substances in the presence of persons under 17, distribution of mushrooms, distribution of THC vapes, distribution of THC gummies, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Coburn was released after posting bail of $94,500.
Metro Narcotics is a task force staffed by the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office, West Monroe Police, Monroe Police, and the Office of the Fourth Judicial District Attorney.
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