An Austin man who possessed methamphetamine and several pieces of drug paraphernalia within a school zone pleaded guilty to one charge Thursday in Mower County Court.

Scott Richard Anderson, 39, pleaded guilty to fifth degree drug possession, a felony. As part of a plea agreement, one charge of third-degree possession of narcotics in a school zone was dropped.

Anderson was arrested after Mower County Sheriff’s deputies, Austin Police and members of the Southeast Minnesota Drug Task Force searched his home on Feb. 22, according to Police Cpt. Dave McKichan.

McKichan said law enforcement searched Anderson’s home at the 1800 block of E. Oakland Avenue as part of an ongoing investigation. Officers found several small baggies with a substance later identified as meth. All told, just under three grams of meth was found, a glass pipe, several baggies, several capsules, a bag containing unidentified pills, digital scales, empty plastic bags, cotton swabs, a spoon and other paraphernalia, according to the complaint. Anderson allegedly told police the meth was his, and he sold meth to support his own drug habit. Anderson also told authorities he filled the capsules with meth and ingested them, but the unidentified pills were prescribed for tooth pain, the complaint states.

Anderson’s sentencing is set for May 10.

— Trey Mewes contributed to this report.