Louisiana Police: Drug Vending Machine Sold to Kids

WEST MONROE, La. - A vending machine is supposed to be a convenient place to grab a snack or drink. But investigators in North Louisiana say one machine was allegedly being used for something...very illegal and strange.

Authorities say a West Monroe man has been arrested after parents reported children were buying THC products and psychedelic mushroom candy from a vending machine set up outside a home. The investigation led to a lengthy list of drug and weapons charges.

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Parents Alerted Police After Children Allegedly Bought Drugs

According to the Metro Narcotics Unit of Ouachita Parish, they began looking into the situation after multiple parents reported that their children had purchased THC vape pens, THC gummies, mushroom-infused candy bars and other products from a refrigerated vending machine located in the carport of a home on Arlington Drive in West Monroe.

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According to lincolnparishjournal.com, agents visited the property on July 1 and found the vending machine operating in an open-air carport with the drugs displayed alongside their prices. Investigators said one disposable THC vape was listed for $35.

After locating the drug vending machine, authorities then interviewed those at the residence.

THC Gummies

From lincolnparishjournal.com -

Residents on the premises were determined to be Coburn’s mother and juvenile son. After interviews, a search warrant was obtained and executed for the home. During the search, agents located large amounts of THC vapes, large amounts of marijuana, large amounts of THC gummies, mushroom candy bars, a large variety of drug paraphernalia, one money counter, drug ledgers, two firearms, ammunition, money bands,

banking information, two metal safes, etc.

Search Warrant Leads To Large Drug And Weapons Seizure

After interviewing people at the residence, investigators obtained a search warrant for the property.

During the search, authorities say they recovered:

Large quantities of marijuana
THC vape products
THC gummies
Mushroom candy bars
Drug paraphernalia
Drug ledgers
A money counter
Two firearms and ammunition
Two locked safes
Banking records and money bands

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West Monroe Man Faces Multiple Felony Charges

Police identified the suspect as 35-year-old Jonathan Coburn of West Monroe.

Coburn was not at the residence when investigators executed the search warrant and allegedly refused to cooperate with authorities by phone. Officials say he later was arrested and booked into the Ouachita Correctional Center.

As you can imagine, Coburn is facing quite a few serious charges including -

Distribution of THC vape products
Distribution of THC gummies
Distribution of psychedelic mushrooms
Possession with intent to distribute marijuana
Possession of firearms by a convicted felon
Illegal possession of firearms while possessing narcotics
Possession of controlled substances in the presence of a person under 17
Possession of drug paraphernalia

Coburn was later released after posting a $94,500 bond. As with all criminal cases, the charges are allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

The investigation was handled by the Metro Narcotics Unit, a task force made up of investigators from the Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office, West Monroe Police Department, Monroe Police Department and the Office of the Fourth Judicial District Attorney.

The unusual and strange allegations have obviously attracted attention across Louisiana because of authority's claim that children were able to buy controlled substances from what appeared to be an ordinary vending machine.