On October 5, 2022, members of the Lewis County Sheriff's Office, NEMO Drug Task Force and Missouri State Highway Patrol executed a search warrant at 10467 290th Street, La Belle, Missouri in rural southwest Lewis County.  The search warrant was executed due to an on-going criminal investigation involving illegal drugs.  During the course of the search, law enforcement located a stolen Dodge truck in a garage.  The vehicle was reported stolen from Quincy, Illinois in late September 2022.  Several illegal items were also located in residence including controlled substances and drug paraphernalia.  Based on the investigation, Warner Lee Wheeler, age 54 of the residence was taken into custody.

On October 5, 2022, Assistant Prosecutor Chelsea Fellinger filed formal criminal charges in Lewis County and sought a warrant for Mr. Warner.  Honorable Judge Corey R Moon issued a warrant for the following charges: one count of Possession of a Controlled Substance, namely methamphetamine and marijuana, and one count of Receiving Stolen Property, both a class D felony.

Mr. Wheeler remains lodged in the Lewis County Jail in lieu of a $25,000 cash only bond.

The Lewis County Sheriff's Office was assisted by the Quincy Police Department.

Further arrests are pending.

***All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.***