KALAMAZOO, MI (WTVB) – A former longtime employee of the Branch County Prosecutors Office and two other co-defendants in a marijuana grow operation entered into plea agreements a couple of weeks ago with Special Prosecutor Cory Johnson of Kalamazoo County
Court records indicate Evon Staley along with her daughter Stephanie Staley and Patricia Moses all entered pleas to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly person-illegal occupation.
Evon Staley entered a no contest plea on April 24th while Stephanie Staley and Moses entered guilty pleas. The rest of the charges against the three, which included delivery and manufacturing marijuana, were dismissed in exchange for the pleas.
The Staleys and Moses all received one day jail sentences which were credited and they were ordered to pay fines and costs.
Co-defendant Blake Staley was scheduled to be in a Kalamazoo courtroom for a hearing on Monday. He is facing six charges including three counts for felony firearm and two counts for dealing or manufacturing a controlled substance.
Evon Staley lost her job in the prosecutors office after the Southwest Michigan Enforcement Team conducted a bust at the Staley property on Grass Lake Road on November 22, 2016 after a five month undercover investigation.
S.W.E.T. says 56 live plants were seized during the bust along with 12 pounds of processed marijuana and about 100 schedule 2 prescription medications.
After the marijuana case was filed, Evon Staley filed a sexual harassment lawsuit in October of 2017 against Branch County Prosecutor Ralph Kimble. Branch County was also listed as a defendant because Staley claims the county “failed to take timely and appropriate action based on Prosecutor Kimble’s sexual harassment of their female employees.” That suit is scheduled to go to trial on January 22nd, 2019. Kimble has denied the accusation.
