FAIRMONT — A Minneapolis man and a Shakopee woman are facing felony charges in Martin County.

Jeffery Jon Hookham, 49, and Janet Ellen Presler, 54, have each been charged with two counts of drug possession in the third degree. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

According to the complaint:

On Sept. 17, a Minnesota State Trooper received a phone call from an off-duty Faribault County Sheriff’s deputy indicating he had observed a tan Chevrolet Trailblazer turn off Martin County Road 26 onto 220th Avenue. The deputy gave the trooper the license plate of the vehicle. Both the trooper and the deputy had received information that the vehicle was potentially involved in drug-related activity.

The trooper was aware that the vehicle was registered to Presler and that Presler’s boyfriend was Hookham, and that Hookham’s privilege to drive in Minnesota was canceled.

The trooper observed the vehicle in question traveling west on Johnson Street in Fairmont, driven by a male with a female passenger. The trooper followed the vehicle and both vehicles eventually stopped in a parking lot. The trooper and Hookham both exited their vehicles.

The trooper observed that Hookham was upset about his contact with him, and Hookham attempted to walk away from the scene. Hookham failed to follow orders and the trooper advised him that he was under arrest. Hookham resisted slightly, but eventually complied and was handcuffed.

When placed in the squad vehicle, Hookham became belligerent and began yelling.

The trooper then spoke with the passenger, identified as Presler. Presler indicated she owned the vehicle Hookham had been driving. She indicated they had pulled into the parking lot in order to avoid the trooper.

The trooper observed a marijuana pipe in the console cup holder, and heard Hookham yelling from the squad vehicle that the pipe belonged to him.

The trooper deployed his narcotics detecting K9, which alerted to the presence of narcotics. Officers then searched the suspect vehicle, where they discovered baggies containing meth, morphine pills, a meth pipe, and one pill each of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine.

Presler was placed under arrest and the pair were transported to the Martin County Jail.

At the jail, the trooper interviewed Hookham, who admitted the meth and pills belonged to him. He further admitted to smoking meth the prior night and in the morning.

The trooper later spoke with Presler, who denied that any of the meth or pills belonged to her. Presler admitted to an extensive drug use history, as well as knowing that Hookham did not have a license.

The trooper obtained a search warrant for a sample of Hookham’s blood or urine. Hookham refused to provide either. A check on Hookham’s criminal record shows a conviction for DWI on Feb. 28.