Uniontown, Mo., man arrested on marijuana charges

A call from a concerned neighbor led deputies from the Perry County Sheriff's Department to make an arrest on marijuana-related charges and seize six firearms and a large quantity of marijuana growing supplies, according to Perry County Sheriff Gary Schaaf.

Around 9 a.m. April 25, authorities received an anonymous phone call from someone in Uniontown, a town of about 184 people, reporting shotguns were being fired in an unsafe direction on Route A.

"It's a rural area, but it is kind of a little community, so they went to check it out," Schaaf said.

When deputies arrived at the residence, they discovered Nathan C. Davis, 32, of Uniontown, with a woman shooting guns off in the backyard, according to the police report.

Numerous shotgun shells littered the yard.

The two told deputies they were shooting skeet and plastic containers placed on the hillside for target practice.

A background check showed Davis had an extensive criminal history, including two convictions in Mississippi County for felony stealing.

Because it was against both state and federal laws for Davis to own firearms, deputies suspected there may be other contraband at the house, Schaaf said.

Based on the firearms and the observation of marijuana seeds and marijuana butts inside the residence, deputies returned three days later with a search warrant.

They seized six guns total, five of them handguns, plus two bags of marijuana, numerous marijuana butts found in the living room coffee table, prescription pills and a marijuana growing manual.

A detached greenhouse on the property housed 92 plants believed to be marijuana, which were sent to the Southeast Missouri Regional Crime Lab for analysis.

Davis faces charges of manufacturing a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and unlawful use of drug paraphernalia.

He is held at the Perry County Jail on a $25,000 cash-only bond.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

388-3635