One of two area residents facing felony charges following the execution of a narcotics search warrant on April 12, 2021, changed his plea in court.

Authorities say they seized methamphetamine and marijuana, along with numerous drug-related items- including three sets of digital scales; several used syringes; numerous glass smoking pipes; and a gun with ammo at a Lake Lafayette residence.

According to court documents, William J. Neeley Jr., of Greenwood, was charged with felonies for drug trafficking or attempt in the first degree and unlawful possession of a firearm; and two drug-related misdemeanors.

During a plea hearing on July 22, as part of a plea deal, Neeley, who had previously pleaded not guilty, pleaded guilty to the trafficking charge, and the state dismissed the other three charges. His two-day jury trial that was scheduled to begin on Wednesday, August 3, has been canceled.

Neeley is scheduled to be sentenced at 9 a.m. Monday, August 1, at Lafayette County Circuit Court.

Earlier this year, Sarah K. White, of Odessa, withdrew her plea of not guilty and entered a plea of guilty to felonies for possession of a controlled substance, tampering with an electronic monitoring device and failure to appear for a felony charge. The court dismissed the other charges. She was sentenced to spend five years in the Missouri Department of Corrections on each of the first two charges, with the sentences to run consecutively (with credit for time served); and three years on the latter felony charge, with that sentence to run concurrently.