A couple arrested on suspicion of cultivating and distributing marijuana has now been formally charged with first appearances slated for next week.
William Ellis, 36, and Octavia Ellis, 35, were arrested Tuesday as part of an Emporia Police narcotics investigation. Court documents obtained by KVOE News indicate one of the couple’s children was contacted by law enforcement and said her parents smoked pot in front of her. That led to a warrant search at 1411 Lawrence and, according to authorities, evidence of a grow operation inside — including but not limited to 50 live marijuana plants, 15 dried plants, close to 25 harvested plants, psilocybin mushrooms and a host of other peripherals, including a wide range of paraphernalia, a handgun, a shotgun and shipping parcels.
Both have now been formally charged with single counts of possession of paraphernalia with intent to manufacture or cultivate, use of drug paraphernalia and aggravated child endangerment. William Ellis has also been charged with a single count of cultivating controlled substances, while Octavia Ellis has a single count of cultivating a controlled substance.
First appearances are tentatively set for 12:45 pm Monday.
