Man charged in alleged sophisticated marijuana grow operation in Stoddard County to appear in court

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- One of two men accused in an October marijuana arrest south of Dexter will make an appearance in court this Wednesday.

Robert Williams, 45, faces the Class A felony charge of drug trafficking in the first degree and the Class B felony charge of manufacturing marijuana (a controlled substance).

Williams is slated to appear before Circuit Judge Stephen Sharp at 1:30 p.m. for a hearing.

A second suspect in the case, 31-year-old Don Murphy, remained at large.

A warrant has been issued for Murphy's arrest. When apprehended, he will also face a drug trafficking charge and the Class B felony of manufacturing of marijuana.

Upon entering a residence on Old Sand Raod police found three rooms of the house equipped with marijuana growing apparatus including a grow light system. A total of 218 plants were seized.

The pot plants weighed in at 240 pounds, according to Stoddard County Sheriff Carl Hefner, who confirmed no one was living at the residence where the operation was found. It is believed both Murphy and Williams resided in the home nearby where Williams was arrested.

Hefner confirmed that the pair had allegedly been operating the indoor pot growing operation since April of this year.