An additional felony-level drug possession charge was added to a previously existing possession case that occurred earlier this month involving a man from Princeton.
Following a months-long investigation by the Princeton Police Department and the Sherburne County Drug Task Force into reported drug sales, a search warrant was conducted at the residence where Robert Earl Paulson III, 33, of Princeton, resided in the 7600 block of Highway 95 in Princeton on Aug. 1, according to the criminal complaint filed in the Mille Lacs County District Court.
After a search of the home, officers located a loaded Smith and Wesson handgun in the living room alongside ammunition for the firearm throughout the residence, the report states. Due to a prior conviction for possessing a controlled substance, Paulson was disqualified from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
While conducting the search warrant, officers also located a bag containing a white substance, later identified as cocaine, weighing 12.94 grams, and a second bag of a white powder later, identified as fentanyl, weighing 3.85 grams, the report states.
At that time, Paulson was charged with one count of possession of ammunition and a firearm after a prior conviction, one count of third-degree drug possession of 10 or more grams of a narcotic drug other than heroin, and one count of drug possession in the fifth-degree for residual drug paraphernalia not related to cannabis. All three charges are felony-level charges.
Just over a week later, Paulson was also charged with drug sales in the first degree for selling 17 grams or more of cocaine or meth within a 90-day period, which is a felony-level charge with a maximum sentence of 30 years, a $1 million fine, or both.
The charge is related to an incident in April 2024 after investigators with the Sherburne County Drug Task Force met with a confidential informant who had agreed to purchase methamphetamine from Paulson, according to a second criminal complaint filed with the Mille Lacs County District Court on Aug. 8.
The informant then participated in three sales of methamphetamines from Paulson throughout the month.
The first sale took place on April 1, 2024, wherein investigators oversaw a controlled buy between the informant and Paulson at Paulson’s residence. According to the complaint, the informant agreed to purchase an “8 ball” or 3.5 grams of meth from Paulson.
After being briefed and provided with $170 to conduct the purchase, the informant entered Paulson’s residence under controlled supervision and made the purchase.
The second purchase took place on April 9 wherein investigators oversaw a controlled buy between the informant and Paulson. The informant agreed to purchase a quarter ounce, or seven grams, of meth from Paulson and was provided $225 to do so. According to the criminal complaint, the sale took place in downtown Princeton within the same block as a childcare center, and the informant and Paulson conducted the transaction inside of a vehicle. Investigators then overheard the informant and Paulson engage in conversations related to controlled substances. Following the transaction, the informant provided the meth to investigators.
The last sale took place on April 24. According to the criminal complaint, the informant agreed to purchase a half-ounce, or 14 grams, of meth from Paulson and was provided with $450 to do so. Following the transaction, which took place at Paulson’s residence, the informant presented the meth to investigators.
The total weight of the methamphetamine from the three purchases was approximately 23 grams, according to the criminal complaint.
Paulson was scheduled to appear for an initial appearance, Rule 8 hearing, on Aug. 13 for the second advisement and reading of his rights.
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