Alleged indoor marijuana growing operation found in Stoddard County

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A pair of Puxico, Mo., residents were arrested Wednesday on charges of growing marijuana.

According to the complaint filed Wednesday in Stoddard County Court Division 2, the arrests came as the result of the execution of a search warrant.

Sheriff's deputies, along with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, searched a residence at 550 N. Turnbaugh St. in Puxico at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Stoddard County Sheriff Carl Hefner said about 25 individual adult marijuana plants were found. They were reportedly growing in a closet and bedroom on the north side of the house.

Both occupants of the residence, Tony Lee Stephens Jr., 30, and Gina K. Farris, 39, were arrested and are being held in the Stoddard County

Jail.

Stephens and Farris are both charged with manufacturing marijuana and face a $50,000 cash-only bond.

A .410 shotgun was also found inside the residence. Stephens, according to the complaint, is a felon and therefore is prohibited from possessing a firearm.

Several other items were reportedly located in the search that can be used to cultivate and distribute marijuana, including a 400-watt lighting system, an air purifier, fertilizer and marijuana seeds.