Three men face drug-related felonies after law enforcement served warrants at four properties Friday evening in West Plains and Willow Springs.
Jeremy L. Dawson, 45, of West Plains, is charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance and 10 counts of unlawful use of a weapon. According to court records, the weapons charges stem from the simultaneous possession of a firearm and a controlled substance. Dawson was released after posting a $100,000 bond and is scheduled for arraignment on April 13 before Associate 37th Circuit Judge R. David Ray.
Travis D. Stewart, 32, of Pottersville, is charged with one count of possession of a controlled substance. Stewart remains jailed on a $100,000 bond. He pleaded not guilty during an initial appearance Monday and is scheduled to return to court Friday for a counsel status hearing. Prosecutors noted Stewart has two prior felony convictions for stealing and tampering with a motor vehicle.
Bradin L. Massey, 20, of West Plains, is charged with second-degree drug trafficking. He was arrested and released on a $100,000 bond and is set for an initial appearance Monday before Ray.
Court documents state the warrants were executed "in and around" Howell County as part of a narcotics investigation that began in 2023. Law enforcement reportedly seized substances that field-tested positive for methamphetamine, psilocybin mushrooms and Alprazolam (Xanax).
Officers also recovered an AR-10 rifle, an SKS rifle, a Bushmaster AR-15 rifle, a 12-gauge Mossberg shotgun and a semi-automatic shotgun. Additionally, about 130 pounds of marijuana wax products, vape pens and edibles — including packaging weight — were allegedly found at three homes associated with Massey.
In a social media statement, Howell County Sheriff Matt Roberts described the operation as a coordinated effort involving the Howell County Sheriff’s Office, West Plains Police Department, West Plains Special Response Team, Howell County SWAT, South Central Drug Task Force, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Operation Relentless Pursuit and federal officers.
The cases are being prosecuted by Howell County Prosecutor Mike Hutchings and Assistant Prosecutor Rizwan Ahad.
