Nicholas Thomas Koskinen

     A man on parole from the Arkansas Division of Corrections was arrested Thursday morning, August 1st, on a plethora of drug charges after being pulled over for a traffic violation.

     Sheriff's Corporal Craig Kocka was running stationary radar on Baxter CR 608 when he observed a vehicle approaching him going 20 miles per hour over the posted speed limit as verified by radar.  Corporal Kocka initiated a traffic stop on this vehicle, a 2007 Nissan Quest, and made contact with the driver.  The driver was identified as 39 year old NICHOLAS THOMAS KOSKINEN of Mountain Home.  KOSKINEN is a parolee with a search waiver on file.  He had just been released from prison on May 23rd. 

     KOSKINEN was found to have a suspended driver license.  KOSKINEN was placed in restraints, and a search of his person and the vehicle was conducted.  During this search, Corporal Kocka found various controlled substances and drug paraphernalia.  These included approximately 3.3 grams of fentanyl, approximately 9 grams of methamphetamine, alprazolam pills, clonazepam pills, psyllium mushrooms, marijuana, digital scales, meth pipes, storage containers with methamphetamine residue, and a magnetic box commonly used to conceal drugs on the undercarriage of a vehicle. 

     NICHOLAS KOSKINEN was arrested and transported to the Baxter County Detention Center and incarcerated on charges of:

Trafficking a Controlled Substance - Felony
Possession of Methamphetamine with Purpose to Deliver - Felony
Possession of Schedule I Controlled Substance with Purpose to Deliver - Felony
Possession of Schedule IV Controlled Substance with Purpose to Deliver (2 counts) - Felonies
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (2 counts) - Felonies
Driving While License Suspended - Misdemeanor
Speeding - Misdemeanor
Habitual Offender - Penalty Enhancement

     Records indicate that KOSKINEN has at least 23 prior felonies in 11 different cases, which qualifies him as a habitual offender.

     NICHOLAS THOMAS KOSKINEN is being held in custody in lieu of $25,000 bond on the new charges and without bond for a parole violation.  He will appear before the Baxter County Circuit Court to answer on August 12th.

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff