Drug charges filed against driver in fatal rollover

A hearing is set Wednesday for a 26-year-old Minden man on charges of possession of methamphetamine for sale uncovered during a probation check in his vehicular manslaughter conviction.

Jerett McAlister is charged with possession of a controlled substance for sale, possession of a controlled substance and being under the influence of a controlled substance, methamphetamine.

McAlister was arrested March 15 at his residence after his probation officer was tipped that he was allegedly selling methamphetamine, according to court documents.

He is Douglas County Jail on $10,000 cash bail.

McAlister's lawyer, Tom Perkins, requested Friday that a hearing on the probation violation be continued until after the new allegations are resolved.

Lawyer Kris Brown was appointed to represent McAlister on the drug charges to be heard Wednesday in East Fork Justice Court.

McAlister was found guilty Feb. 18 of vehicular manslaughter in the July 15, 2009, death of Christopher Medina, 22.

East Fork Justice Jim EnEarl sentenced him to 180 days in Douglas County Jail, suspended, and placed him on two years probation for the misdemeanor offense.

Chief alternative sentencing officer Doug Swalm went to McAlister's house March 15 and stopped him as he was leaving the residence in his girlfriend's car.

Swalm said he saw McAlister, who was a passenger, hand something to the girl before the vehicle stopped.

According to reports, Swalm found methamphetamine, plastic bags, and a pipe in the driver's side door pocket, several small plastic bags in the vehicle, and a backpack that contained a scale, glass pipe and additional bags along with a Department of Alternative Sentencing report form.

Perkins represented McAlister on the traffic accident because the county's contract attorneys had conflicts with other principals in the incident.

Brown was assigned for the drug charges as the county's court-appointed attorney.