UTM student Stephen Helgeson, 24, of Martin was cited on simple possession of marijuana and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia on Nov. 17 after he called the Department of Public Safety to unlock his vehicle.

Officer Bryan Chandler was dispatched to the parking lot by the UC to unlock Helgeson’s truck. When Chandler was attempting to unlock the vehicle, he noticed a green leafy plant like material, believed to be marijuana, on top of a Frisbee in the passenger side floor board of the truck. The Frisbee and the plant like substance were both in plain view.

After unlocking the vehicle, Chandler called two other officers to the parking lot. Helgeson admitted to the officers that the leafy substance was marijuana. Lt. Ray Coleman and Sgt. Cecil Clements informed Helgeson of his rights and then searched the vehicle and found two pipes with marijuana residue in them and one half smoked marijuana cigarette inside of a cigarette box. A baggie of marijuana residue was also found behind the seat. Helgeson admitted that all of the items were his.

Helgeson was cited on charges of simple possession of schedule VI drugs and illegal possession of drug paraphernalia. He pled guilty in Weakley County General Sessions Court on Nov. 22 and received supervised probation for 11 months and 29 days. He is to pay court costs that total an amount of $1,361.

Helgeson is currently an employee of Sodexho at UTM. He was formerly employed by The Pacer</I> as the Viewpoints Editor. In the spring of 2002, Helgeson founded The Back Row, an alternative campus newsletter.