Jasper man's firearm charge dismissed in plea to related drug charge

May 3—A 54-year-old Jasper County man has pleaded guilty to felony drug possession in a plea deal dismissing a related firearm charge and was placed on probation for five years.

Darrell W. Thomason, of Jasper, accepted a plea offer Tuesday in Jasper County Circuit Court and was granted a suspended imposition of sentence on the drug conviction, with a related charge of unlawful possession of a firearm as a felon dismissed.

Thomason was arrested on the charges following a traffic stop April 2, 2022, in Carthage. A probable-cause search of the vehicle conducted when the odor of marijuana was detected turned up two hypodermic syringes, one of which contained methamphetamine, a small amount of marijuana and a black powder firearm in a backpack found in the trunk, according to the affidavit.

The document further states that the defendant has prior felony convictions or arrests for drugs, burglary and kidnapping and is prohibited from possession of firearms.

Jeff Lehr is a reporter for The Joplin Globe.