BROTHERS TO BE TRIED IN MARIJUANA CASE

Agent Testifies Farm Had Almost 500 Plants

Port Washington - Two Town of Belgium brothers who are charged with running
one of the largest marijuana growing operations in Wisconsin were ordered
Tuesday to stand trial.

Ozaukee County Circuit Judge Walter J. Swietlik ordered David W. Burmesch,
74, and Eugene A. Burmesch, 80, to stand trial on felony charges of growing
marijuana and possessing marijuana with intent to sell. The brothers each
face up to 30 years in prison and fines totaling $200,000 if convicted.

Swietlik ordered David Burmesch to stand trial after holding a preliminary
examination in which Department of Justice Agent Paul M. Byal testified
about the Sept. 1 raid on David Burmesch's farm. Eugene Burmesch's
attorney, Gerald Boyle, decided not to have his client go through the
preliminary examination.

Under questioning by District Attorney Sandy Williams, Byal testified that
he and other agents found 98.5 pounds of packaged marijuana hanging from
the ceiling of a shed on the Burmesch farm.

"The marijuana was in brown, grocery-type bags bound with twine and hanging
from the ceiling," Byal testified. "It was labeled as to weight."

Byal also said agents found 498 plants growing in a 80-by-40-foot area. He
said the field was surrounded by a 10-foot-high metal fence and agents had
to scale the fence to see what was growing. There was a strong odor of
marijuana around the field, he said.

David Burmesch told the agents that he had not planted the 2000 crop but
that it had grown from seeds that had fallen from plants grown in other
years, Byal said.

Byal said a ledger with detailed entries about those to whom the marijuana
was sold and when also was found.

Swietlik ordered both men to appear in court Tuesday for a formal arraignment.