In the wake of a search warrant executed by officers of the Merrill Police Department at a Grand Avenue address on February 10, a 19-year old Merrill man is headed to trial; facing multiple drug related charges.
According to a criminal complaint filed with the office of the Lincoln County District Attorney, Merrill officers responded to a report of the odor of marijuana at a residence in the 800 block of Grand Avenue on Saturday, Feb. 10. Upon arrival, officers made contact with 19-year old Devon A. Schultz.
Schultz reportedly admitted to smoking marijuana prior to officer arrival. Schultz reportedly led officers to a bedroom where he turned over a pipe to officers. While in the bedroom, officers observed green, leafy material consistent with marijuana as well as a digital scale and a safe in plain view.
A subsequent search warrant yielded over a kilogram of suspected marijuana, four grams of a substance believed to be cocaine as well as numerous items of paraphernalia, including various devices commonly used in the consumption of marijuana, scales, weights and packaging materials, Suspected marijuana was found packaged into individual plastic bags, consistent with marijuana packaged for resale.
On Monday afternoon, Feb. 12 Schultz appeared for an initial appearance in Lincoln County Circuit Court on Felony charges of Possession of THC with Intent to Deliver, Maintaining a Drug Trafficking Place, and misdemeanor charges of Possession of Cocaine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. During Schultz’s court appearance. Lincoln County District Attorney Galen Bayne-Allison acknowledged Schultz having no criminal record, but voiced concerns of Schultz as a possible flight risk as well as possible access to other individuals involved in drug trafficking. Bayne-Allison requested the court order Schultz to be held on $5,000 cash bond. Public Defender Gavin Grubofski argued for a signature bond based on Schultz having no prior criminal record.
Lincoln County Circuit Court judge Robert Russell ultimately ordered Schultz to be held on $2,500 cash bond, which was posted Tuesday Feb. 13.
Schultz returned to court Friday where he waived his right to a preliminary hearing. Based on evidence presented, Russell found probable cause to believe felony offenses had been committed by Schultz and ordered Schultz bound over for trial. Schultz’s next appearance is set for a March 29 pre-trail conference.