HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 54-year-old man facing two cases involving the distribution of drugs failed to get Judge Trish Rose to suppress some of the evidence.

Darren Stephenson is alleged to have been in possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute and personal use paraphernalia. The state alleges he was in possession of a seller’s quantity of marijuana as well as the meth when he was arrested by Hutchinson Police back on Feb. 1.

In an earlier case, Stephenson is also charged with possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute, no tax stamp and personal use drug paraphernalia.

A drug-related search was done on his property in the 1400 block of North Forest. Drug Unit detectives say they found a wooden box containing a digital scale with white residue, new baggies, a zip-close bag with a crystal substance, that was later determined to be three grams of meth, inside his bedroom. They also found a glass pipe with burnt vegetation, another pipe with burnt residue, a second baggie with green vegetation that weighed about a gram and tested positive for marijuana, and a used bag with crystal residue that is also believed to have been meth. That was in October of last year.

The defense tried to challenge the information in the affidavit presented to the judge so it could be granted the search warrants, but after the state presented its side, Judge Rose denied the request.

Both cases are pending a jury trial.

Stephenson has prior convictions for aggravated indecent liberties with a child and obstruction of the legal process for crimes in Rice County. The indecent liberties charge goes back to 1999 and the obstruction charge occurred back in 2006.