NORTHWOOD — Two Albert Lea men arrested in Worth County on drug charges have pleaded not guilty.
A criminal complaint states that 37-year-old Adam Sorum and 53-year-old Jabar Morarend on the morning of April 3rd pulled into the Diamond Jo Casino near Northwood, with Sorum later walking into the adjacent Top of Iowa Welcome Center and Morarend driving to meet up with Sorum. A deputy pulled into the parking lot where he attempted to execute a search warrant, with both men being inside the building and allegedly attempted to avoid the deputy by walking out the building’s back door.
Both were detained while the warrant was executed on the vehicle, where the complaint states a soft cooler was located containing about one-and-a-half ounces of methamphetamine, clean unused baggies, a scale, and drug paraphernalia. Also allegedly located in the vehicle was a bag that had a face mask, gloves and burglar tools in it.
Both Sorum and Morarend were charged with possession of meth with the intent to deliver and possession of burglar tools. Morarend pleaded not guilty last month to the charges with his trial scheduled to start on July 9th. Sorum pleaded not guilty on Monday, with his trial scheduled to start on August 20th.
If convicted of the charges, the men could face over 25 years in prison.
