Vernon Parish District Attorney Terry Lambright announced the recent conviction of Vernon Patrick Lee, 48, of Leesville, following a jury trial involving possession of methamphetamine.
A six-person jury found Lee guilty of possession of Schedule II methamphetamine in an amount greater than two grams but less than 28 grams after hearing testimony from two Leesville Police Department officers.
According to testimony presented during the trial, officers were dispatched to a local business in response to a drug-related complaint. Upon arriving and making contact with Lee, he fled on foot before being apprehended a short distance away.
Officers testified that methamphetamine was discovered both in Lee’s immediate possession and inside a vehicle.
Testimony was also presented regarding Lee’s previous drug convictions. Prior to the trial, Lee had been convicted of drug-related offenses on four separate occasions.
“He is now a 5th felony offender and our office will seek to have him sentenced under the habitual offender statute. This will increase his exposure and will lengthen the time frame before he becomes parole eligible. I will continue to work every day to rid our community of drugs and those who continue to commit crimes,” Lambright said.
Lee is scheduled to be sentenced on December 16, 2026, by Judge C. Anthony Eaves.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Wayne Bush.