Kirbyville Man Arrested on Felony Drug Charge Following Traffic Stop on Hwy 82

Matthew Laney, 36, of Kirbyville, was arrested Monday night and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance (PG1 <1G), a state jail felony. Photo courtesy of the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office.

JASPER COUNTY, Texas — A Kirbyville man was arrested Monday night following a traffic stop that led to the discovery of suspected methamphetamine, according to the Jasper County Sheriff's Office.

On Monday, December 29, 2025, at approximately 9:25 p.m., Deputy Shannon Davis conducted a traffic stop for defective equipment on Highway 82 West in Kirbyville.

During the stop, Deputy Davis made contact with the driver, identified as Matthew Laney, 36, of Kirbyville. While speaking with Laney, Deputy Davis observed drug paraphernalia in plain view inside the vehicle. Based on that observation, a probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted.

During the search, Deputy Davis located a small plastic bag containing a substance he recognized as methamphetamine.

Laney was arrested and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, Penalty Group 1, less than one gram, a state jail felony. He was transported to the Jasper County Jail.

As with all criminal cases, Laney is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Jasper County Sheriff Chuck Havard stated that he and his staff remain committed to combating criminal activity and maintaining public safety throughout Jasper County.