Brainerd Army Store employee's guilty plea delayed

A Tuesday guilty plea hearing in federal court for one of two employees of the Brainerd Army Store charged with selling items to make methamphetamine was rescheduled for next month when attorneys couldn't agree on plea details.

Tony Dewayne Honeycutt, 49, faces a charge of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. Prosecutors allege in court documents that he and Terry Michael Honeycutt, brother and employee, sold meth-making materials from January 2008 until October 2010.

The hearing was rescheduled for Dec. 3.

Tony Honeycutt was scheduled to plead guilty, but last-minute discrepancies between his attorney, Steven Sadow, of Atlanta, and prosecutor Anne-Marie Svolto meant the plea agreement had to be delayed.

Prosecutors are seeking to have the Brainerd store forfeited to the government and the two men to pay $300,000. One of Honeycutt's conditions of the plea agreement was that he pay an undisclosed but agreed-upon amount the day he pleaded.

Sadow told U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan K. Lee that because of financial complications between the brothers his client couldn't pay the money immediately.

Chris Townley, of Rossville, who represents Terry Honeycutt, has said previously that his client intends to plead not guilty and go to trial.

The men are charged on what's called an information document and have not been indicted on the charges.

Contact staff writer Todd South at 423-757-6347 or tsouth@timesfreepress.com.

Upcoming Events