Three arrested in Town of Taft marijuana bust  
by Mark Berglund
The Star News
February 4, 2010 —  Law enforcement officials seized 26 marijuana plants along with packaged illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia Wednesday morning when they executed a search warrant on CTH H in the Town of Taft.
Three people were arrested as a result of the search. William “Billy” Grantham, 24, Thomas Keppert, 46, and Brittany Meeker, 22, were taken into custody. All three were transported to the Taylor County Jail to await an appearance in circuit court.
At approximately 8 a.m., officers from the Taylor County Sheriff’s Department, Price County Sheriff’s Department, Chippewa Falls Police Department and Eau Claire Police Department entered the western Taylor County residence. They located an indoor marijuana growing operation, the packaged drugs and paraphernalia associated with illegal substances. The current production of the operation appeared to consist of 26 plants and it appeared there had been a recent harvest of adult plants.
Judge Ann Knox-Bauer set a $1,000 cash bond for Keppert, a $500 cash bond for Grantham and a $1,000 signature bond for Meeker. During his bond hearing, Grantham said Meeker was his girlfriend and they were residing at the residence where the raid occurred. A non-contact order with the other co-defendants was included in the bond. During his bond hearing, Grantham was the first defendant to make his appearance before Knox-Bauer. Kelz asked for a $1,000 cash bond. The judge advised Grantham of his rights and asked if he had any comment on the bond. He stood and said “what they found at my house,” at which point the judge caught him and advised him against making a statement of self-incrimination.
As Grantham was being led from the courtroom and back to the Taylor County Jail, he yelled over his shoulder to a man in the courtroom, “Have you got that money?”
Grantham’s initial appearance was set for March 2 at 1:30 p.m.
Meeker was the next defendant in the courtroom. Knox-Bauer asked Kelz why the bond request was different from Grantham’s and Taylor County District Attorney Karl Kelz said she had no previous criminal history. Meeker shook her head in a no fashion when the judge asked if she had any comment on the bond.
Keppert gave a reaction of disbelief and indignation when Knox-Bauer began the hearing by saying she found probable cause for the arrest. “Can I say something?” he asked.
Taylor County Sheriff’s Department Detective Ameus Balsis was sworn in and he testified Keppert was arrested during the raid and there was a loaded firearm next to him when he was arrested.
Keppert once again gave a reaction and Knox-Bauer told him, “excuse me Mr. Keppert, keep your comments to yourself.”
Kelz cited Keppert’s record of past prison sentences and open court cases in Chippewa County in asking for the $1,000 cash bond.
“I’ve never run from anything,” Keppert said when asked to comment on the bond. “I didn’t know there was a gun in the place,” he said before Knox-Bauer advised him not to incriminate himself. “I’ve always lived up to my responsibilities,” he said.
Knox-Bauer set the cash bond, saying Keppert was facing a significant uphill battle in his cases in Chippewa County and Taylor County. His initial appearance is set for March 16.

Return to main
Go to next story