A day after losing the primary election for Sheriff, a Jasper County Deputy is facing felony drug charges. Deputy John Guthrie faces charges of possession of marijuana, delivery of marijuana and second-degree burglary. Guthrie’s accused of breaking into a car in Newton in 1995 to steal about half a pound of marijuana. Court papers say Guthrie was wearing his uniform and driving his squad car — with his wife in the passenger seat — when he allegedly committed the theft. Guthrie is accused of giving the marijuana to an accomplice, then returning later to collect his half of the money from the sale of the pot. Guthrie lost Tuesday’s primary to Sheriff Mike Balmer by about 400 votes. Sheriff Balmer says the County Attorney initiated the investigation, and he had nothing to do with it. Balmer, though, will now launch an internal investigation of the incident. Guthrie says the charges are politically motivated and completely false
