CRITTENDEN COUNTY MEN PLEAD GUILTY IN FEDERAL COURT
TWO CRITTENDEN COUNTY MEN HAVE ADMITTED IN U.S. DISTRICT COURT TO PARTICIPATING IN A CONSPIRACY TO PRODUCE MARIJUANA. 37-YEAR OLD CARL RUSSELL BELT JR. AND 67-YEAR OLD CHARLES ROBERT BLACKBURN ENTERED GUILTY PLEAS TO THE CHARGES BEFORE U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE THOMAS RUSSELL.
IN ENTERING THE PLEAS, THE TWO MEN ADMITTED TO BEING INVOLVED WITH FORMER WEBSTER COUNTY PREACHER ALVIN NICHOLAS DAVIS IN THE OPERATION. BELT, WHO HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY ARRESTED FOR MARIJUANA PRODUCTION, STATED THAT DAVIS APPROACHED HIM ABOUT STARTING THE OPERATION.
BELT AND BLACKBURN ALSO ADMITTED THAT DAVIS AND BLACKBURN PURCHASED THE STARTER PLANTS IN APRIL AND MAY OF 2009. THE TWO ALSO STATED THAT AFTER BELT HARVESTED THE POT, THE PLAN WAS FOR DAVIS TO MOVE IT TO A DEALER IN TENNESSEE WHO WOULD REPORTEDLY PAY BETWEEN 2500-DOLLARS AND 3500-DOLLARS PER POUND.
STATE POLICE DISCOVERED ONE OF THE PATCHES AND BEGAN SURVEILLANCE THAT WOULD EVENTUALLY CAPTURE VIDEO OF BELT WORKING WITH THE PLANTS.
THE PAIR ALSO STATED THAT ONCE STATE POLICE DISCOVERED THE OPERATION, DAVIS ASKED BLACKBURN TO SIGN A FALSE AFFIDAVIT THAT DAVIS WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE OPERATION.
BELT AND BLACKBURN FACE UP TO 40-YEARS IN PRISON, WITH A MANDATORY MINIMUM OF FIVE YEARS. FORMAL SENTENCING FOR THE TWO IS SET FOR JUNE 10TH.
DAVIS, WHO IS ALSO CHARGED IN THE CASE, HAS A HEARING IN FEDERAL COURT ON MARCH 17TH.
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