A Newton County man, 48-year-old Esrial Jasper of Hasty, has been arrested and charged with five felony counts after his son told authorities his father, a convicted felon, was threatening to kill him and had a firearm in his possession.According to the probable cause affidavit filed Wednesday, when Jasper’s son contacted Newton County authorities, he advised his father had fired a weapon at him several times across a field and believed the gun was a .22 caliber rifle. He said based on a text message he received, his father believes his son had stolen his marijuana plants.A deputy responding to Jasper’s residence along Newton County Road 3801 noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from a vehicle in the driveway. In the back of the SUV in plain view was a large plastic container holding numerous unprocessed marijuana plants.The deputy could hear Jasper in the residence, but he refused to come out of the home. By talking with Jasper by cellphone while requesting a search warrant, the officer was able to convince the Newton County man to surrender without incident.
Officers located approximately 1 pound of marijuana wrapped in a shower curtain in the rear of the SUV, along with a tub containing loose marijuana, a box with about 3 ounces in the front seat of the vehicle, and a camo bag in the front passenger seat with individual bags of the drug, scales and .22 ammo.
Inside a camper in the front yard of the residence officers located loose marijuana on the floor and inside a cabinet. It appeared the camper had been used to dry the drug.
A .22 caliber rifle was located in a bathroom of the residence covered with blankets and clothes. The weapon was loaded, with one round in the chamber. As a convicted felon, Jasper is precluded from possessing firearms.
He has been charged with felony counts of possession of marijuana with purpose to deliver, possession of a firearm by certain persons, simultaneous possession of drug and firearms, possession of drug paraphernalia and aggravated assault, as well a being a habitual offender.
His bond was set at $25,000.
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