Press Release: One arrested in Franklin County drug bust

PRESS RELEASE

FRANKLIN COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE

Members of the Franklin County Sheriff Office and the confiscated contraband.

"On April 20, 2019 we received information from a property owner who indicated that he was contacted by a hunter, stating that he had discovered some marijuana being grown on his property. The property owner provided us with photographs that he had taken and the location of the marijuana plants.

On April 22nd, we went to the area, located in the 17000 block of Hwy 23 north and discovered the plants which was estimated to be over 100, some in the ground and some of them in cups waiting to be planted. Cameras were placed on the plants. The suspects had hand dug a pond for watering and had several holes dug that had not been filled yet.

On April 23rd, while surveying the property, law enforcement witnessed two males approach the plants and began tending to them. After a few minutes of surveying the males, law enforcement made contact with them and they were placed under arrest.

The two males, one being nineteen year-old Austin McCoy of Ozark and the other being a seventeen year old male who has been charged as an adult.  McCoy, was found to have a loaded handgun in his waistband that was stolen out of Centerton.

The two males lived a short distance from the where the plants were and a search warrant was executed on the residence. Inside the residence more firearms were located with another being stolen out of Elkins..

Approximately 4.3 pounds of packaged marijuana was inside of a bedroom, some being stored in a suitcase. Additional plants were located inside the residence along with a guide on how to grow the marijuana. The suspects used video cameras to monitor who was coming up to the residence.

The marijuana that was seized is believed to be medical grade marijuana and has an average value of $200.00 per ounce with a total of approximately $14,000.00 in seized marijuana.

In total, approximately 150 plants were seized which were one foot tall or smaller. At this time, the two suspects face multiple felony charges one being simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, a class y felony which can carry up to life in prison."