Randall Robert Jackson, of Griffin, who is accused of being party to the crime of sale of a Schedule IV controlled substance — a felony — faced Spalding County Chief Magistrate Judge Rita Cavanaugh for a preliminary hearing Tuesday morning.

Sgt. Gene Mathews, of the Griffin Police Department’s Career Offender Burglary Robbery Apprehension (COBRA) Unit, testified at the hearing.

“Sgt. Curtis Keys advised me that the subject (Jackson) had approached an off-duty police officer and offered to sell him three Klonopin,” Mathews said.

Upon receipt of this information, Mathews said arrangements were made for the off-duty officer, Cpl. Dexter McCune, who works for the Jackson Police Department, to purchase the Klonopin — a prescription medication most commonly used to treat seizure disorders — which acts as a central nervous system depressant.

Keys and McCune then drove to Marian Point Apartments at 416 W. Poplar St., to meet with Jackson as Mathews and Cpl. Heather Burbrink, also of the COBRA Unit, watched the transaction from the apartment complex’s northeast corner.

“Once Curtis Keys and Mr. McCune pulled up in front of the apartment, Mr. Jackson approached them,” Mathews testified. “He (Jackson) took $10 from McCune and went upstairs. He came back downstairs with Harold Brauer, who gave the Klonopin to McCune.”

At that time, Brauer and Jackson were placed under arrest, Mathews said.

During a cross-examination of Mathews, Jackson’s defense attorney, Joyce Bussey, asked if anyone ever saw Jackson with any drugs or if any drugs were located on the defendant. The officer responded, “No.”

Bussey then said, “Isn’t it true that the only person who sold drugs was Mr. Brauer?”

Mathews answered, “He completed the transaction.”

After hearing the testimony presented, Cavanaugh said she found probable cause for Jackson to be bound over for trial in Spalding County Superior Court on the single felony drug-related charge.

Spalding County Assistant District Attorney Brad Collins later said, “It’s safe to say that based on the preliminary hearing, probable cause has been found to suggest he (Jackson) was a party to the crime of arranging a sale between an officer and a supplier. He pretty much brokered the deal.”