Undercover Nabs Dealer in Parking Lot Drug Sale
By Jacob Mathias
An Amherst Junction man faces a felony charge after allegedly selling prescription medication to an undercover narcotics officer.
Jesse Hageness, 29, was arrested after selling Ritalin, a Schedule II, controlled ADHD medication to an undercover police officer in a Plover store parking lot on March 30.
Hageness made his initial appearance in Portage Co. Circuit Court on Aug. 22 with his attorney Jared Redfield.
According to the criminal complaint, Hageness had become a suspect following an investigation of the Central Wis. Drug Task Force, after which an investigator from the Portage Co. Sheriff’s Office arranged a controlled buy from Hageness.
On the day of the buy, a narcotics investigator, along with a confidential informant, made arrangements to meet the defendant to purchase the Ritalin, driving in the same vehicle to meet Hageness in a local grocery store parking lot.
Hageness arrived at the location shortly thereafter, and approached the passenger side of the officer’s vehicle to exchange a cigarette box containing 40 pills — later identified as 20 mg Ritalin tablets — for $140 in prerecorded bills. The pills were immediately submitted to the sheriff’s office as evidence.
Hageness is charged with felonious delivery of Schedule II non-narcotics, which carries up to a $10,000 fine, six years in prison or both if convicted. Hageness is also facing a disorderly conduct charge for an unrelated offense.
Hageness is currently free on a $1,500 signature bond and under court order to not possess nor consume controlled substances without a valid prescription, nor is he allowed to associate with persons possessing or consuming those substances.
He returns to court on Sept. 19 at 3:00 PM for a preliminary hearing.