(COLDWATER) - The case of a Coldwater Township man is heading to trial.
Branch County District Court officials say 51-year-old Richard Hernandez's case had been moved on to Circuit Court following a preliminary examination. He is charged with multiple felony counts including possession with intent to deliver 45 kilograms or more of marijuana, possession with intent to manufacture marijuana product and maintaining a drug house.
Due to his criminal history that goes back to 1982 the State of Michigan is also charging Hernandez as a fourth-offence habitual offender.
On May 7, the Michigan State Police Marijuana Tobacco Investigation Section executed a search warrant at 133 North Centennial Road and found an alleged massive black market hash oil laboratory. During the search officers seized approximately 534 pounds of usable marijuana and 14 mason jars that had marijuana wax.
District Court officials say Hernandez's attorney tried arguing that the operation was an unlicensed, and non-profit medical setup to help alleviate a personal back injury. The Branch County Prosecutor's office said that electronic records were pointing directly to a commercial, wholesale trafficking enterprise.
Hernandez is scheduled to be back in court for a pretrial hearing on August 17 at 9 AM. He is free after posting a $75,000 bond. Bond conditions include a total ban on cannabis consumption and mandatory random drug screenings.