NEWPORT-Three more people named on a 55-count presentment returned earlier this month by the Cocke County Grand Jury in connection with an alleged marijuana conspiracy have been arrested, bringing the total number of arrests in the case to 16.

The presentment returned by the grand jury on January 14 alleges that 18 defendants participated in a conspiracy to buy and distribute more than 300 pounds of marijuana from January 2004 to November 21, 2008.

Thirteen defendants were arrested immediately after the grand jury's action, three have been arrested this week, and warrants for the final two suspects are still outstanding. The defendants were arraigned before Circuit Judge Ben W. Hooper II on Monday and Tuesday and have bonds as high as $500,000.

Some of the suspects have been able to post bond, but others remain in the Cocke County Jail. Motions to reduce the defendants' bonds in the case are pending before Judge Hooper.

The most recently arrested suspects are Gather Richard Lyles, 59, of Altoona, Alabama, who posted a $500,000 bond in the case; Richard Lee Church Jr.; and Tonya Perry.

Lyles is alleged to have sold about 105 pounds of marijuana to co-defendants Charles Eddie Arms, 65, and Mary O. Arms, 61, both of 385 Gardenia Road, in Alabama on September 6. The other defendants are alleged to have arranged for the sale of large and small amounts of the drug, of receiving shipments of marijuana, and of breaking down the large shipments into smaller packages for sale.

District Attorney General Jimmy Dunn said agents of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation; the Fourth Judicial District Drug Task Force; the Cocke, Grainger, and Jefferson county sheriff's departments; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; and the Tennessee Highway Patrol were involved in the investigation.

Defense attorneys say they have been told that there was "electronic surveillance" involved in the probe, including a wiretap on a cell phone authorized by Circuit Judge Rex Henry Ogle.

As the court case against the suspects develops, defense attorneys are expected to file various motions to suppress evidence in the case and to dismiss some of the charges. The next court date for the defendants named in the 55-count presentments is set for February 17.

Other defendants who were arraigned by Judge Hooper this week are Lisa Darlene Large, 45, of 322 Lonesome Pine Road, Bybee; April Laws, 41, of Old Highway 25E, Thorn Hill; Michael Dewayne "Bear" Wise, 48, of 127 Goins Cemetery Lane, Tazewell; Annie B. Dreadin, 67, of 152 Wilmoth Lane, Washburn; Susan Denise Scearce, 38, of 138 Wilmoth Lane, Washburn; Donna Roberts, 53, of 9109 Highway 25E, Thorn Hill; Timothy Wayne Evans, 49, of 170 Highway 160, Newport; Sandra D. Evans, 42, of 170 Highway 160, Newport; David Douglas, 47, of 5850 Hiawatha Road, Morristown; Scottie Bailey, 39, of 152 Wilmoth Lane, Washburn; and Misty L. Harris, 27, of 3419 Dedra Street, Morristown.

Judge Hooper also accepted three plea agreements on Tuesday from defendants in unrelated cases.

Twenty-eight-year-old Robert Creighton Jr. pled guilty to attempted theft and vandalism of property valued at more than $10,000.

Assistant District Attorney General Brownlow Marsh told the court that Creighton was one of two people seen by Newport police running across Cosby Highway from the Sparkle Wash on June 6 of last year. The defendants are alleged to have heavily damaged the cash machine at the business in an attempt to remove the money.

In the negotiated plea agreement, Creighton was sentenced to a three-year jail term, suspended to 30 days time served with the balance on supervised probation. He was also ordered to pay $1,000, along with the co-defendant, in restitution to the victims of the crime.

Also on Tuesday, 30-year-old William Daniels was ordered to serve 120 days of an 11-month, 29-day jail term after pleading guilty to third-offense driving under the influence (DUI) and speeding.

Marsh told Judge Hooper that Daniels was stopped by Newport police on June 21, 2008, driving 62 miles per hour in a 45 mph zone.

Under the terms of the plea-bargain, Daniels will lose driving privileges for three years, pay fines totaling $1,110, and must attend the state-sponsored education program for drunk driving offenders.

Kelsey Ray McMahan also pled guilty on Tuesday to possession of drug paraphernalia and simple possession of cocaine.

Assistant District Attorney General Amanda Lowe told the court that McMahan was stopped by Cocke County sheriff's deputies in 2007 and the officers found open needles and three "rocks" of crack cocaine inside his vehicle.

McMahan was ordered to serve six days of an 11-month, 29-day jail term, with the balance on probation, and pay fines totaling $900 along with court costs, under the terms of the plea-bargain.