A Mount Carmel man is facing multiple felony and misdemeanor charges after Wabash County authorities allegedly discovered more than 11 pounds of cannabis and a fortified residence during an investigation.
Wabash County State's Attorney Kelli Storckman has filed charges against 35-year-old Paul DeWeese of Mount Carmel.
DeWeese is charged with possession of cannabis with intent to deliver, a Class X felony. Prosecutors allege he possessed more than 5,000 grams, or more than 11 pounds, of a substance containing cannabis with the intent to deliver.
He is also charged with criminal fortification of a residence, a Class 3 felony. According to court records, DeWeese allegedly maintained a residence at 818 Mulberry Street in Mount Carmel in a fortified condition to prevent lawful entry by law enforcement or others, knowing the residence was being used for the unlawful storage, delivery, and trafficking of cannabis.
Additional charges include domestic battery, a Class A misdemeanor, alleging DeWeese knocked his wife to the ground and dragged her by the neck into the residence.
He also faces two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm without a valid Firearm Owner's Identification, or FOID, card, both Class A misdemeanors.
The alleged offenses occurred on June 24.
DeWeese appeared Thursday in Wabash County Circuit Court for his first appearance on the charges. Judge William C. Hudson advised him of the charges, possible penalties, and his rights before appointing Public Defender William Easton to represent him.
Following a hearing on the State's petition to deny pretrial release, Judge Hudson granted the petition, finding the State had established by clear and convincing evidence that DeWeese is charged with a detainable offense, poses a real and present threat to the safety of a person or the community, and that no combination of release conditions could adequately mitigate that threat.
DeWeese remains in the custody of the Wabash County Sheriff's Department.
A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for July 20 at 11:00 a.m., followed by a final pretrial conference on August 17. A jury trial is currently set to begin September 8.
As with all criminal cases, the charges are allegations, and DeWeese is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
