State prosecutors in Baxter County have dropped charges against one of five individuals accused of involvement in a drug trafficking operation. Carson Michael Grass, 21, had faced state charges of trafficking methamphetamine and possessing drug paraphernalia, but those charges were dismissed during an Oct. 12 session of Baxter County Circuit Court. Grass, however, continues to face federal charges, including conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.

Grass remains free on bond and is scheduled for a Nov. 20 pre-trial hearing in federal court, with a jury trial set for Nov. 30.

The case stems from a broader investigation involving four other individuals: 22-year-old Cameron Mitch Baker Jr., Baker’s girlfriend, 21-year-old Kadence Martin, 35-year-old Wesley Bray, and Bray’s wife, 24-year-old Hannah Nicole Smolek-Brace. Baker and Martin have pleaded guilty to federal charges related to the case. Sentencing dates for the pair have not yet been scheduled.

The investigation began with a domestic disturbance between Bray and Smolek-Brace at their residence along U.S. Highway 62 East. According to authorities, Bray’s wife reported the incident to investigators and later provided information that implicated others in a suspected drug operation.

When deputies arrived at the residence, they observed methamphetamine in plain view, prompting them to obtain a search warrant. During the search, law enforcement discovered approximately 11 pounds of methamphetamine inside a vehicle on the property. Authorities were told that the vehicle and the drugs belonged to Baker.

Baker and Martin were later arrested at Martin’s Mountain Home apartment. Officers reportedly discovered Baker asleep in a bedroom, and a subsequent search of the apartment led to the seizure of a safe. Mountain Home police utilized a drug-sniffing dog to examine the safe, which was found to contain 1.5 pounds of suspected cocaine, two firearms, and $11,600 in cash.

No additional information regarding the other defendants' charges or court proceedings has been released at this time.