FAIRMONT — A Fairmont man and a Le Sueur man are both facing felony charges in Martin County. Jonathan Robert Hill, 35, of Fairmont, and David Igor Denzer, 28, of Le Sueur, are both charged with drug sales in the second degree, which carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and a $500,000 fine. Both men are also charged with drug possession in the third degree, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

In addition, Denzer is charged with one count of second degree conspiracy to commit a second degree controlled substance crime, which carries a maximum penalty of 12.5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

According to the complaint:

On February 26, 2021, a Fairmont police officer received information from the Martin County Sheriff’s Office that Hill was acting as an accomplice with another individual, later identified as Denzer, to sell meth to a third male party. Communications between the parties outlined that Denzer would arrive in Fairmont around 11:30 p.m. with the meth and would go to the third man’s residence where the exchange would take place. Denzer, Hill, and the man agreed on a price of $200.

Officers later received information from the third man and an adult woman, that the exchange was cancelled for an unrelated reason, but was to be rescheduled for February 27. On that day, the officer received information from the man and woman that Denzer was making the trip to Fairmont that evening. They indicated that Denzer would travel to Hill’s residence and they would then both travel to make the exchange.

The officer was able to locate information on Denzer, including his vehicle and driver’s license. Later, the officer observed Denzer’s vehicle traveling Highway 15 in Fairmont, and began to follow the vehicle. At 11:18 p.m. the officer received screen shot photographs from the third man of a baggie filled with a crystal substance, that was consistent with the appearance of meth.

The officer later observed Denzer and Hill traveling on Albion Avenue in Fairmont and initiated a traffic stop of the vehicle. The officer approached and observed Denzer in the driver’s seat and Hill in the front passenger seat and a female party also in the vehicle. The officer observed that Denzer would not look at her and was shaking.

Denzer was asked to step out of the vehicle, and the officer explained that she had received information that he was traveling with meth in his vehicle. Denzer explained that he threw the baggie away because it was not meth. He explained the substance in question was salt.

Denzer was patted down for weapons and a dab pen, commonly used to consume THC concentrate, was discovered in his chest pocket. Denzer admitted that the pen was his and contained THC.

The officer then asked where he obtained the baggie they were talking about. Denzer told the officer that he discovered the baggie a year and a half ago at a salvage yard. Denzer claimed that he did not have the baggie anymore because he threw it out.

Denzer denied an intention to go to the third man’s house to sell meth. Denzer then consented to a search of his vehicle, and officers did not discover meth during the initial search.

A Martin County Sheriff’s deputy advised Denzer of his rights, and Denzer told the deputy that he hid the baggie in the shift assembly in the vehicle. The meth was located and Denzer was placed under arrest.

The officer then spoke with Hill, and advised him of his rights. During the subsequent conversation, Hill admitted assisting Denzer with setting up a deal to sell the meth to the third man.