JUSTIN P. CLARK, d/o/b: 6-29-1977, of Nixa, Missouri, pled guilty on Friday, April 11, 2014, to the class B felony of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, in the Circuit Court of Christian County. Circuit Court Judge Mark Orr sentenced Clark to serve ten (10) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections pursuant to a plea agreement with the Taney County Prosecutor’s Office.

On March 4, 2014, officers of the C.O.M.E.T. drug task force executed a search warrant at Clark’s apartment in Nixa. During the search, officers found over 200 grams of marijuana, as well as digital scales, pipes, and other items of drug paraphernalia. A portion of the marijuana was pre-packaged for distribution. During an interview with officers, Clark admitted that he had been selling marijuana out of the apartment for the preceding few months.

A class B felony carries a range of punishment of no less than five (5) years but no more than fifteen (15) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. Taney County Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Merrell’s office was appointed to act as special prosecutor in Clark’s case.