11 indicted after deputies find large marijuana grow operation in Lincoln County

LINCOLN COUNTY, N.C. — Eleven people have been indicted on drug charges by a Lincoln County grand jury a month after deputies said they discovered a large marijuana grow operation.

Of the 11 suspects, one -- 65-year-old Virgil Wyatt King -- is already in jail.

Investigators were tipped off about the operation inside a home on Car Farm Road and on Nov. 16 they executed a search warrant at the house.

The search of the property led to authorities finding a large marijuana grow operation which yielded 55 marijuana plants and about 3 pounds of harvested marijuana.

Investigators also confiscated four guns and a large amount of ammunition.

Jack Lewis, Jr., 47, lives at the home and was there during the search. He will be charged with manufacturing marijuana, possession with the intent to sell and deliver marijuana, possession of firearms by a convicted felon, habitual felon, and maintaining a dwelling for the purposes of using/keeping/selling marijuana.

Others indicted on drug charges by the grand jury earlier this week are:

• Virgil Wyatt King, 65, of Lincolnton. King is charged with the sale and delivery of a controlled substance and possession with intent to sell and deliver along with maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance. The incidents occurred on Sept. 17, 2020, Sept. 23, 2020, Oct. 8, 2020 and Oct. 27, 2020. King turned himself in to authorities on Dec. 16, and was placed in the Harven A. Crouse Detention Center under a $100,000 secured bond.
• Melinda Dawn Edmondson, 36, of Lincolnton is charged with sell and delivery of a controlled substance, trafficking by sell and delivery and possession with the intent to sell and deliver. The incidents occurred on Oct. 17, 2020.
• Steven Shane Hulett, 35, of Lincolnton is charged with sell and delivery, possession of illegal drugs and sell and delivery of methamphetamine, possession with the intent to sell and deliver and maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance.
• Cohen J. Hill, 38, of Cherryville is charged in connection with a Nov. 25, 2020 incident for possession of methamphetamine.
• Stephen Eugene Travis, 50, of Cherryville is charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver methamphetamine, possession of heroin, and maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance.
• Jamie Rae Baker, 26, of Cherryville is charged with possession of methamphetamine.
• Michael Jennings Sturgill, 45, of Maiden, is charged with possession of heroin
• Lorie Ann Sprouse, 51, of Maiden is charged with possession of methamphetamine
• Caitlin Rae Peeler, 29, of Vale is charged with possession of methamphetamine.
• Haley Megan Hunt, 28, of Casar is charged with possession of methamphetamine.

Sophisticated marijuana growing operation found in Caldwell County, officials say Caldwell County deputies are calling a drug bust in Sawmills one of the most sophisticated indoor marijuana grow operations they have ever seen.

Cox Media Group