Mason City man pleads not guilty to drug charges

MASON CITY — A Mason City man facing drug charges has pleaded not guilty.

A criminal complaint states a search warrant was executed on July 18th at the residence of 60-year-old Ricky Mahnesmith in the 300 block of 3rd Street Southwest, with authorities saying they found just under six grams of methamphetamine, six-and-a-quarter grams of marijuana in various baggies and containers, as well as a container that unlawfully contained the Schedule IV prescription medication Zolpidem.

Mahnesmith was arrested in November and charged with: intent to manufacture or deliver meth over five grams, a Class B felony punishable by up to 25 years in prison; as well as separate counts of unlawful possession of a prescription drug and possession of marijuana, both serious misdemeanors. Mahnesmith was due in court today for his arraignment hearing, but court records show he filed a written plea of not guilty to the charges last week.

District Judge Colleen Weiland has set Mahnesmith’s trial to start on February 25th.