SAWYER COUNTY — John Beck, of Exeland, WI has been sentenced in Sawyer County Circuit Court on his felony marijuana charges following posts that he made on the social media website, Facebook.
Beck was arrested and charged after he posted photos of marijuana plants on Facebook as well as allegedly posting about wanting to have an altercation with a Sawyer County Deputy.
On September 27, 2018, Sawyer County law enforcement executed a search warrant at a residence after Beck published those posts.
During the search warrant, 13 marijuana plants were seized along with various items of drug paraphernalia.
Two separate criminal cases were filed against Beck in early October 2018 charging him with Class H Felony Manufacture/Deliver THC (Marijuana) (>200-1000 g), Class I Felony Manufacture/Deliver THC (Marijuana) (<=200 g), Class H Felony Bail Jumping, and three counts of Misdemeanor Possess Drug Paraphernalia. No charges were listed in online circuit court records regarding the threats to a Deputy that Beck allegedly posted on Facebook.
Online circuit court records show that on November 20, 2018 Beck appeared for a hearing on all his charges. The Court accepted Beck’s plea of Guilty to his charge of Class H Felony Manufacture/Deliver THC (Marijuana) (>200-1000 g). The rest of Beck’s charges were dismissed but read-in as part of a plea agreement.
The Court ordered a withheld sentence for Beck: 120 days of county jail time with 60 days imposed and 60 days stayed and 3 years of probation. Beck received credit for 64 days served and was also ordered to pay over $500 in court costs.
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Man Arrested After Posting Pictures of Pot Plants, Threatening Deputy on Facebook
DrydenWire.com l Thursday, September 27, 2018
SAWYER COUNTY -- A 52-year-old man was taken into custody by authorities following a search warrant at a residence regarding the posting of pictures marijuana plants and wanting to have a 'physical altercation' with a Sawyer County Deputy, according to a press release from Sawyer County Sheriff Douglas Mrotek.
(Press Release) -- On 09/21/18 at about 1:36 p.m., Sawyer County Sheriff’s Office Deputies, assisted by the Sawyer County SWAT Team and the Wisconsin State Patrol, executed a search warrant at a residence located on Klinger Road in the Town of Wiergor in Sawyer County. The search warrant was obtained after a 52-year-old male suspect, identified as John Matthew Beck who lives at the residence, posted pictures of two marijuana plants and posts about wanting to have a physical altercation with a Sawyer County Deputy, on Facebook. As a result of the search warrant, Mr. Beck was taken into custody for Felony Manufacture of THC, Felony Bail Jumping, Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Misdemeanor Unlawful Use of Computerized Communication Systems.
A previous search warrant was executed on the same residence on 09/14/18. During the execution of the 09/14/18 search warrant, 13 marijuana plants and drug paraphernalia were located and seized from the residence. As a result of the search warrant on 09/14/18, Mr. Beck was taken into custody on 09/14/18 for Felony Manufacturing of THC and Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Mr. Beck was subsequently released on a $5000 signature bond for the 09/14/18 charges.
You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The Sawyer County Sheriff’s Office, the Wisconsin State Patrol and the Sawyer County District Attorney’s Office continue our combined efforts in our mission to protect the citizens of Sawyer County.
Sheriff Douglas Mrotek
Last Update: Nov 27, 2018 8:19 am CST
