Suspected meth found during stop
John Mark Jenkins
Robbinsville – A routine traffic stop yielded one of the largest meth busts in Graham County history.
On Sept. 2, sheriff’s Deputy Justin Stewart pulled over a vehicle operated by John Mark Jenkins, 54, a native of Bryson City who listed 149 Maggie Wachacha Road in Snowbird as his address. Jenkins was stopped on Old Highway 129; also in the vehicle was Jessica Leigh Posey, 32, of 112 Lick Log Road in Bryson City.
Stewart indicated that Jenkins was acting “very nervous” during the stop, so the aid of narcotics Detective Matt Cox and K-9 Sam was requested. Sam is a 3-year-old Mal-X (German Shepherd/Belgian Malinois) mix that has been employed by the sheriff’s office since 2021.
Sam’s inspection of the vehicle eventually led to the largest discovery of her career – 90 grams of a crystal-like substance, believed to be methamphetamine.
Jenkins and Posey were subsequently arrested and charged accordingly: Jenkins with trafficking in methamphetamine, possession with intent to sell/manufacture/distribute methamphetamine, and maintaining a vehicle for the sale of a controlled substance; Posey for possession of a schedule II controlled substance.
Jenkins later received a $40,000 bond; Posey’s was $10,000.
Jenkins is scheduled to appear in court Monday, Oct. 9; Posey’s appearance is penciled in for Monday, Nov. 27.