HOT SPRINGS — A former worker of an area marijuana cultivation facility was arrested Thursday on a felony warrant and accused of stealing “a particular pressure” of marijuana seeds valued at over $28,000 after he was fired final 12 months.
Scott Bennett Wealthy, 45, who lists a St. Louis handle, was booked into the Garland County jail shortly earlier than 1 p.m. Thursday on one depend of theft of property over $25,000, punishable by as much as 20 years in jail.
Wealthy, who lists no prior native legal historical past, was launched on a $5,000 bond lower than an hour later. The case was filed on to Garland County Circuit Court docket on Aug. 23, 2022, and a warrant was issued for his arrest the subsequent day. As of Friday, a courtroom date had not been set on the matter.
In response to the possible trigger affidavit filed by Alcoholic Beverage Management/Arkansas Tobacco Management investigator Stephen W. Brooks out of Little Rock, on March 20, 2022, shortly after midday, Brooks acquired a cellphone name from Jesse Trammel, senior vp of New Day Cultivation, a medical marijuana cultivation facility at 260 Amity Highway in Sizzling Springs.
Trammel instructed Brooks a theft of marijuana seeds had simply occurred by an worker, recognized as Wealthy. That very same day, Brooks went to the ability and met with Trammel, who took him into the “Clone Room” the place the theft occurred, authorities stated.
Trammel confirmed him a locked field containing a variety of packages of marijuana seeds, 76 in whole, and instructed him Wealthy had acknowledged he was going to take the seeds with him “if he wasn’t going to work there.” Trammel stated he instructed Wealthy the seeds belonged to New Day and had been entered into the state’s Stock Management System.
Brooks considered safety footage from the Clone Room that confirmed Wealthy taking a field from a decrease shelf and opening it, authorities stated. He will be seen eradicating gadgets from it, and changing the field after which strolling to a different desk with packages of seeds in his hand, authorities stated. Reed then positioned the seeds in a black trash bag and left the room with Trammel following, authorities stated.
Brent McCord, president of New Day, acknowledged he and Trammel had earlier determined it was time to let Wealthy “transfer on to different alternatives as a result of a poor office perspective.” After speaking with Wealthy, McCord acknowledged Wealthy stood and shook his hand, “thanked us for the chance” and stated “there was nothing else to speak about” so he was going to “seize just a few provides” and depart. He then went to the Clone Room and took the seeds from the secure, authorities stated.
McCord instructed Brooks he may hear Trammel “pleading” with Wealthy as he chased him down the hallway, telling him the seeds have been registered by means of the state to New Day and “have been now not his.” McCord stated Trammel tried “a number of occasions” to let Wealthy know what he was doing was towards the regulation.
On March 22, 2022, Trammel suggested Brooks through e mail the stolen seeds have been acquired with out value to New Day, but when the seeds have been to mature totally, producing a 2-ounce yield, the loss to New Day Cultivation could be $28,500 “at present market worth.”
On March 29, Brooks spoke with Annie Iselin of Workforce BOLD, a medical marijuana cultivator in Cotton Plant, who reportedly confirmed the estimation supplied by Trammel as being “usually correct.” She acknowledged in her expertise the estimation by Trammel of a completely mature marijuana plant’s yield of two ounces was “conservative.”
