MONROE — A 36-year-old Monroe man faces a felony drug charge after reportedly giving an elderly friend three THC-laced candies without the friend’s knowledge.

Jonathan I. Oner was arrested and jailed on a warrant in the case after a Green County deputy stopped him for driving 22 mph over the speed limit on Oct. 30, according to court records.

Oner was released on a signature bond after his initial appearance Nov. 2 in Green County Circuit Court. He’s due back in court Nov. 30 for a preliminary hearing on the Class I felony charge of possessing or delivering THC.

The case is based on reports from police interviews with Oner, his friend, medical staff and others. The reports are included with the criminal complaint. 

It stems from an Oct. 2 incident, investigated by Monroe police after officers were called to Monroe Clinic for a report of a patient who was possibly drugged by a friend. 

The elderly patient arrived at the ER by ambulance with stroke-like symptoms, slurring his words and unable to walk. Doctors ruled out stroke or any other medical diagnosis but found THC in his system.

The patient told police Oner had stopped by his house for a visit and offered him a small chewy candy out of a jar. He took one. After a while, he accepted two more of the candies, then fell asleep. He told police the candy wasn’t very good or sweet but he didn’t want to be rude so he ate them anyway.

When he woke up, he felt like he “was in a different world, the floor was spinning and everything was crazy colors.” He told police he was scared and barely able to walk but managed to make it to his phone to call for help.

Before he had fallen asleep, the man had given his credit card to Oner and asked him to get him groceries. When he awoke, he saw Oner had left the card and groceries on a table. No other charges had been put on the card.

Oner told a detective the gummy candies were made with THC and he got them from a friend who acquired them legally in Illinois.

Oner said he shared them with the elderly man in Monroe because he was concerned for his frail health and thought the THC would help him.

“Maybe I did not fully inform him cannabis was in the gummy,” Oner admitted to the detective. Oner said he didn’t divulge the psychoactive ingredient because his friend is very religious and would “freak” if he knew marijuana was in the candies.

Oner “stated he was only trying to help and didn’t think about the entire situation and the possibility of complications due to (the man’s) old age. (Oner) re-iterated he was only trying to help (his friend) and that he loves him as he was like a father to him ever since he was five years old,” the officer noted.

State court records show no criminal convictions or drug-related citations for Oner.