Man faces pot possession charge after employer sees suspicious activity

WILLMAR -- James Arthur Steer Jr., 39, of Willmar, made his first court appearance Friday on two felony charges of drug possession and sale for 3.8 lbs. of marijuana found by CEE-VI Drug Task Force agents in a closet in his home.

Unconditional bail was set at $10,000. His next appearance is Aug. 8 in Kandiyohi County District Court.

According to the complaints, a CEE-VI agent received a report on July 12 from a manager at the Willmar McDonalds restaurant that Steer, an employee, was displaying suspicious behavior. Possible drug activity was suspected and had been recorded on video surveillance.

Agents went to Steer's home and were allowed to search the property. They found three packages of marijuana in a bedroom closet, totally 1,745 grams, or 3.847 lbs. They also found more than $500 in cash.

Steer was interviewed and claimed that it was not his marijuana, but that two men had come to the door and made his hold the drugs for them. He said he'd been paid money to hold drugs for the men before. He denied any drug transactions at the restaurant, saying that he was only giving keys to a relative.