Pocatello man charged after police find him with drugs, stolen credit cards

POCATELLO — A man found in possession of methamphetamine and 11 stolen bank cards faces numerous felonies.

Jacob Jedediah Figard, 27, has been charged with 11 felony counts of fraud by possession of a stolen bank card, as well as felonies for possession of meth and destruction of evidence. He has also been charged with misdemeanors for possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia, court records show.

A Pocatello police officer was on patrol in the area near Center Street and Arthur Avenue in Pocatello around 2 p.m. on Feb. 12. He saw a car traveling west on Center Street trying to race another car, according to an affidavit of probable cause. The car trying to race the other was going around 40 mph in a 25 mph zone.

When the officer approached the vehicle, he could smell a “strong odor of marijuana,” the affidavit says. The officer informed the driver, later identified as Figard, of the smell. Figard allegedly told the officer that he had a “small baggie” of marijuana under his driver’s seat.

Figard was handcuffed while the officer searched the car. On the passenger seat, the officer found a brown backpack Figard said belonged to him.

The officer found 11 bank cards inside the backpack, all of which had the same name on them — not Figard’s.

Officers spoke with the owner of the cards over the phone. The owner said they did not realize the cards were missing, and they had not given Figard permission to use or hold them.

As officer’s completed their search of the car, they found a red coin purse in the back seat containing a baggie of suspected methamphetamine. When the officer returned to Figard to question him about the suspected drugs, the officer found a similar baggie containing suspected meth in the street next to Figard.

The officer later reviewed body cam footage and confirmed the second baggie was not on the street prior to Figard being placed there.

The suspected meth was tested and weighed. It returned presumptive positives and a total weight of 1.5 grams.

Figard was taken to Bannock County Jail and booked. He is being held without bond.

If he is found guilty, Figard could face up to 69 years in prison.

He is scheduled to stand trial before District Judge Javier Gabiola on June 20.

Though Figard has been charged with these crimes, it does not necessarily mean he committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent until they are proven guilty.