Texas Man Found in Roundhill With Drugs in U-Haul Van

John Ricky Lujan, 52, Houston, Texas.

Darren Doyle, story:
A Texas man was arrested late Friday night - Saturday morning after law enforcement found drugs, paraphernalia, and allegedly stolen items in a U-Haul van.

According to an arrest citation, an Edmonson County Sheriff's Deputy saw a U-Haul van parked at a business after hours in the Roundhill community on Morgantown Road, just after midnight on June 15th.

The driver was identified John Ricky Lujan (52) of Houston, Texas. The citation stated that Lujan told the deputy he was out of gas and needed to return the vehicle to U-Haul. According to the deputy, a call to U-Haul confirmed the vehicle had been leased and was nine days past due but not reported stolen because the driver told U-Haul he had returned the vehicle at another location.

The citation also stated that Lujan said he was in the area to appear in court in a neighboring town for a drug paraphernalia charge.

Before he was patted down, Lujan told the deputy he "may have a hypodermic needle" in his possession, according to the citation, and a used needle was found on his person. The deputy stated in the citation that the driver had needle marks on his arm and that Lujan admitted to using injection drugs within the last two days.

A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of several prescription bottles not prescribed to the subject, with some of the bottles defaced or containing no label, the citation stated. According to the citation, other paraphernalia items were located, along with a small capsule container with suspected methamphetamine.

Lujan allegedly told the deputy that a passenger that traveled with him from Texas had abandoned him, however, the deputy later discovered that the reported passenger had made a police report in Bowling Green that Lujan had stolen items from him, which were located inside the vehicle, the citation stated. It was also discovered the alleged passenger had driven separately to meet Lujan, and was not a passenger with him, according to the citation.

Lujan was arrested and charged with:

• Drug paraphernalia-buy/possess
• Prescription controlled substance not in proper container, first offense
• False statements and concealment of facts prohibited
• Illegal possession of legend drug
• Possession of controlled substance first degree, first offense (meth)
• Theft of legend drug, first offense or valued under $300
• Possession of open alcoholic beverage container in motor vehicle prohibited
• Unauthorized use of motor vehicle, first offense

Lujan was lodged in the Hart County Jail on a $5,000 cash bond.

Update: 6/18/24, This story was edited to state the correct community. The arrest citation incorrectly stated "Sunfish" when the actual community was Roundhill.