COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – A former longtime employee of the Branch County Prosecutors Office was among four persons who were formally arraigned Monday in Branch County District Court on charges related to an alleged marijuana grow operation.
Arraignments were held for 58-year-old Evon Staley, along with her 37-year-old son Blake, her 35-year-old daughter Stephanie, and 35-year-old Patricia Moses in front of special judge Tiffany Ankley.
All four are facing two counts of delivery and manufacturing marijuana. Evon Staley is also facing a charge of maintaining a drug house. Her bond was set at $7,500. Blake Staley is also facing three felony firearm counts and a charge of possession of a dangerous weapon. His bond was set at $10,000.
Bonds for Moses and Stephanie Staley were set at $5,000.
Evon Staley lost her job after the Southwest Michigan Enforcement Team conducted a bust at the Staley home on Grass Lake Road where it was believed $72,000 worth of power was diverted from Consumers Energy for the manufacture of marijuana.
The bust took place November 22, 2016 after a five month undercover investigation and one month after Staley was honored by Branch County Commissioners for her 25 years of service to the county.
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.
All four are scheduled to appear for probable cause hearings on November 9th in front of Judge Ankley in Kalamazoo.
Kalamazoo County Assistant Prosecutor Cory Johnson is serving as the Special Prosecutor.
