TWO CHARGED WITH RUNNING MARIJUANA-GROWING OPERATION

West Bend -- Two people wanted in connection with a $30,000 drug and cash
seizure appeared in court earlier this week.

Karl M. Witt, 27, and Cherise A. Raflik, 24, both of the Town of Jackson,
each face a total of seven charges. Each of the defendants is charged with
two counts of being a party to possessing a controlled substance with intent
deliver and one count of maintaining a drug manufacturing facility.

Witt and Raflik also face three counts each of failing to have tax stamps
for drugs and one charge each of manufacturing drugs.

Warrants had been out for the pair's arrest, and they made voluntary
appearances Wednesday before Washington County Circuit Judge Leo Schlaefer.
Both are free on $3,000 bonds.

On Aug. 4, members of the Washington County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug
Enforcement Group, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and a canine unit from
the West Bend Police Department searched a home in the 1600 block of state
Highway 60 in the Town of Jackson.

Both the Washington County Sheriff's Department and the DEA had received
anonymous tips about suspected drug dealing at the rented property.

According to the criminal complaint and departmental reports:

Officers seized just under a pound and half of dried marijuana in addition
to 12 mature marijuana plants.

The value of the dried marijuana was estimated at $3,500. The plants were
estimated to be worth at least $1,000 each.

Investigators also confiscated 3 ounces of hallucinogenic mushrooms. No
value was immediately available.

A total of $15,839 in cash was seized in the raid, including $14,980 in a
plastic bag.

Additionally, officers confiscated seeds, fertilizers, fans, grow lights,
gardening books and records of drug cultivation.

If convicted of all counts, Witt and Raflik could face up to 31 years in
prison and $355,000 in fines.

Both are scheduled to appear in court Aug. 26 for a preliminary hearing.

Checked-by: "Rolf Ernst"