Drugs, guns, stolen property part of investigations
BY KYLE TROUTMAN ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com
A Cassville man is facing 15 total felonies in two cases, allegedly in possession of a large quantity of methamphetamine and multiple weapons, as well as more than $50,000 in stolen property.
Clinton McCullah, 43, of Cassville, is charged in the first case with delivery of a controlled substance and 12 counts of unlawful use of a weapon. In the second case, he is charged with stealing – $25,000 or more and first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle.
According to Det. Michael Larery, with the Ozarks Drug Enforcement Team (ODET), on April 16, ODET assisted the Barry County Sheriff’s Office in serving a state search warrant at McCullah’s home.
Upon arrival contact was made with a witness living at the residence. A search of the premises allegedly revealed five handguns, four rifles and three shotguns, all loaded and accessi- ble, within three separate rooms.
A search of what was identified as McCullah’s bedroom allegedly revealed a small grey bag containing multiple plastic baggies and a digital scale, all inside a chest of drawers. In the same drawer, Larery said he located a blue tool case holding a plastic baggie with a brown, powder-like substance.
The substance tested positive for methamphetamine and weighed approximately 47 grams, which Larery said is greater than the amount commonly seen for personal use.
The meth, drug paraphernalia and firearms were all seized, and Larery noted the meth and paraphernalia were indicative of drug distribution.
McCullah was not at the residence at the time of the search and was not arrested at that time.
According to a probable cause statement filed by Det. Doug Henry, with the Barry County Sheriff’s Office, on March 4, deputies opened an investigation into an allegedly stolen trailer after a reported domestic dispute between McCullah and a witness on March 2. At the time of the domestic dispute call, the witness reported a stolen trailer in the backyard.
On March 4, Det. Jeremy Berner went to McCullah’s residence in Cassville, and while McCullah was present, Berner allegedly observed several trailers in his backyard, one containing a Polaris UTV and a Caterpillar HM316 mulcher.
Later that evening, that trailer was found dumped on a farm road in rural Cassville a few miles from McCullah’s residence. The items were ran through the National Crime Information Center and determined to have been stolen from two victims in Joplin a few days prior to being located on McCullah’s property.
The UTV was valued at $17,000, the mulcher at $30,000 and the trailer at $6,000.
Henry said he processed the items and noted. they were allegedly in the same position as when Berner photographed them on McCullah’s property.
At the time of the probable cause statement filing on April 17, McCullah had a pending charge in Ottawa County, Okla., booked into its jail on April 16 for alleged drug trafficking and possession of a controlled dangerous substance without a tax stamp.
Danny Boyd, Barry County sheriff, said McCullah bonded out on that case. McCullah then turned himself in on the two Barry County warrants on May 1, meeting a $25,000 cash-only bond for the distribution and weapons case, as well as a $10,000 bond (10% or surety), the same day.
McCullah was booked into the Barry County jail on May 1 at 1:17 a.m. and released at 9:27 a.m.
A disposition hearing for the distribution and weapons case is set for May 30 at 9 a.m. in the courtroom of Judge Johnnie Cox. No court date has been set in the theft and tampering case.
