Sean P. Melbourne, 45, Hastings, was charged on Oct. 5 in Dakota County Circuit Court with felony controlled substance crime in the 1^st degree – sale of cocaine or methamphetamine, 17 or more grams with the offense involving 100 or more grams or 500 or more dosage units and felony controlled substance crime in the 1^st degree – possession of cocaine or methamphetamine, 50 or more grams with the offense involving 100 or more grams or 500 or more dosage units.

On Feb. 8, an agent with the Dakota County Drug Task Force stopped a motor vehicle near Foliage Avenue and 157^th Street in Apple Valley. The vehicle was stopped based on information obtained from an agent with another law enforcement agency, namely, that Melbourne might be in possession of a first-degree amount of methamphetamine.

After the vehicle stopped, the agent approached the vehicle and identified Melbourne. The agent asked Melbourne drug-related questions. He admitted to prior methamphetamine use, but not the day. After being informed that a K9 would be conducting a dog-sniff of the vehicle, Melbourne admitted that there were drugs inside the vehicle, specifically, a bag containing methamphetamine.

The K9 alerted to the presence of narcotics. Before searching the vehicle, Melbourne was asked where the bag would be located, and he indicated that a quarter pound of methamphetamine was in his lunch box. The agent searched the vehicle, found the lunch box and a bag that contained a substance that later tested positive for methamphetamine with a weight of 108.21 grams.

In a statement, Melbourne advised that he was traveling to a nearby location to sell methamphetamine to another person for $1,000. A court summons was issued.

According to the complaint, the maximum sentence for both felony controlled substance crime in the 1^st degree with intent to sell and felony controlled substance crime in the 1^st degree possession with the offense involving 100 or more grams or 500 or more dosage units is 65 months to 40 years and/or $300,000 - $1,000,000.