FAIRMONT — A Madelia man is facing a felony charge in Martin County.

David Arnold Arizmendi has been charged with drug possession in the fifth degree, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

According to the complaint:

On June 4, a Martin County Sheriff’s Office investigator was advised by the Martin County jail administrator that during a jail cell inspection, suspected narcotics were found. The administrator and a deputy field tested the suspected narcotics and results came back positive for meth. The meth had been found in a small jewelry-type bag blue in color.

The bag was found in a John Grisham book on Arizmendi’s bunk in the cell. Arizmendi’s name was also on a small piece of paper that was placed inside the book as if it was being used as a bookmark.

The investigator interviewed Arizmendi in the booking room at the Martin County jail, where he was read his rights and agreed to answer questions.

Arizmendi recognized the book and said he had just been reading it. Arizmendi denied ever using meth, selling meth or touching meth, and said a urinary test would come back negative for meth. He agreed to a urine sample, which came back positive for meth.

The investigator interviewed another individual, an inmate in the Martin County jail. The individual said Arizmendi was the person who got the meth into the jail. He said he was not sure how Arizmendi was doing it, but he was getting it done. The individual also said he had obtained a small amount of meth from Arizmendi.