An Austin man who was charged with multiple felony drug crimes after a police raid last year was sentenced to five years probation Friday in Mower County Court.

Juan Irlas, 37, was convicted of fifth-degree drug possession. Five other drug charges were dismissed when he entered into a plea agreement in October.

According to a police report, the search, which was triggered by a drug sale to a police informant, occurred on the 800 block of Third Street NW. Officers from the Austin Police Department, the Mower County Sheriff’s Office and the Southeast Minnesota Narcotics and Gang Task Force entered through the front door and found Irlas and Jesse Lynn Devriendt, 30, as well as another man, on a living room couch. Irlas and Devriendt were arrested without incident.

Officers also had to ward off two pitbulls. Using short bursts from a fire extinguisher, they were able to coax the dogs into a bathroom and shut the door.

After arresting the two defendants and securing the dogs, authorities then searched the home.

In the living room, they found just less than 3 grams of meth, packed into several tightly folded pieces of paper called “bindles.” Officers also found a few used meth pipes under where Irlas had been sitting.

No other items were seized during the search, and there were no apparent signs that the two were manufacturing meth, according to the Austin Police Department.

Several weeks before the search, the APD was notified of a pending drug sale between Devriendt and a confidential informant. The informant planned to meet Devriendt at his residence — the same house that was later searched — on March 9 at 11 p.m. Wearing a wireless transmitter, the informant entered the home at the scheduled date and time.

Police observed two cars leave the property shortly thereafter, and they were able to hear discussion from inside the house about a 38-year-old man going to retrieve drugs for the informant.

When the 38-year-old man returned to Devriendt’s residence on March 9, he came with Irlas, the complaint states. He then sold roughly 4 grams of meth to the informant for $400.

Because the property that was searched is within 300 feet of Pickett Place, Irlas initially faced felony charges for selling narcotics in a public housing zone. That charge was dropped, however.

While Irlas is on probation, he must submit to random testing, complete 40 hours of community service and abstain from drinking alcohol or entering bars or liquor stores.

Reporter Mike Rose contributed to this report.