(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
KENOSHA, Wis. – A Kenosha man with prior felony and drug convictions is facing four new charges—including one for smuggling drugs into the jail—after a sheriff’s deputy found cocaine, marijuana, and packaging materials during a late-night traffic stop on Highway 50.
(Kenosha County Sheriff)
Darrin J. McGee, 28, was formally charged Monday in Kenosha County Circuit Court with four felonies: possession with intent to deliver cocaine (1–5 grams), possession of THC (second and subsequent offense), possession of an illegal article by an inmate, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Each count includes a repeater enhancer because of McGee’s previous felony conviction for possession of a firearm by a felon in Milwaukee County.
Court Commissioner William Michel II set McGee’s cash bail at $7,500. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 16.
The incident unfolded around 11:42 p.m. on July 1, when Kenosha County Deputy Kasulke observed a maroon sedan run a red light at the end of the interstate off-ramp at Highway 50. The deputy conducted a traffic stop after confirming the vehicle’s plates were suspended for noncompliance with emissions requirements. The driver was identified by a Wisconsin ID card as McGee, who admitted to the traffic violation and said he couldn’t stop in time.
As the deputy approached the vehicle, he immediately smelled the odor of fresh marijuana and spotted multicolored bags in the driver’s door pocket, which he recognized from prior investigations as common packaging used by marijuana dispensaries. When asked whether there was marijuana in the vehicle, McGee replied, “a little bit more,” according to the complaint.
A search of the car revealed several bags of suspected marijuana, including a large clear sandwich bag weighing 48.73 grams and a smaller dispensary bag weighing 4.86 grams. A digital scale with leafy residue was found in the center console, and in the back seat, deputies located a red suitcase containing a box of clear sandwich bags—similar to the type the marijuana was found in. Deputies also recovered $1,700 in cash from McGee’s person.
McGee denied having any other contraband on him, but during the booking process at the Kenosha County Jail, deputies discovered 3.98 grams of suspected cocaine concealed in his front pants pocket. The cocaine was divided into seven separate baggies and field tested positive.
Because McGee allegedly brought drugs into the jail without staff knowledge or permission, prosecutors charged him with possessing an illegal article by an inmate—a felony on its own, enhanced further by his repeater status.
The complaint notes that McGee has a history of criminal conduct, including a 2020 felony conviction for possession of a firearm by a felon, for which he served over a year in prison. Additionally, McGee was convicted of misdemeanor possession of THC in October 2024 in Kenosha County. At the time of his latest arrest, he was on probation and parole for prior gun-related offenses, according to the complaint.
Deputies asked McGee for permission to search his cellphone for possible evidence of drug dealing, but he refused. No phone data was obtained.
If convicted on all charges with the repeater enhancements, McGee faces over 25 years in prison and thousands of dollars in fines. The court may also suspend his driving privileges for up to five years.
McGee remains in custody at the Kenosha County Jail pending his next court appearance.
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Bub Bye