Declaring "There is a serious risk that the defendant will not appear" and "a serious risk that the defendant will endanger the safety of another person or the community," United States Magistrate Judge Suisan K. Lee denied bond for a Sweetwater man facing federal drug charges.

Wallace Martin "Boonie" Stokes, 39, was arrested in November after a federal grand jury indicted him on methamphetamine related charges.

Along with Stokes, Brandon Lynn Steele, 34, was also charged. Both men face charges of conspiracy to manufacture and deliver more than 50 grams of meth, illegal possession of firearms by a convicted felon, and other charges.

A third man, Marcus Dean "Crow" Grissom was also been hit with the same charges.

Stokes had sought bond, but Lee called him "a danger to the community," and said it was likely if he was set free, he wouldn't return to court. She said short of keeping him in jail, there was no way to guarantee he would make future court appearances.

See full story in the Sunday, Dec. 23, edition of The Advocate & Democrat.