News brief: Muffler Hut owner to plead guilty in drug case

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Muffler shop owner Frank Eugene Willis consults with his attorney during his first appearance in court on Aug. 20 after being arrested for allegedly selling methamphetamine to a police informant.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The owner of a Centralia muffler shop jailed for allegedly selling methamphetamine to a police informant is planning to plead guilty in a plea deal that’s not quite “hammered out yet.”

Frank Eugene Willis, 65, was arrested Aug. 19 at his business on the 1400 block of South Gold Street when police searched the property following an ongoing investigation into methamphetamine dealing.

He is being held on $500,000 bail and was charged with delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver and possession of stolen property, including a firearm.

Willis appeared in Lewis County Superior Court yesterday as his attorney and a deputy prosecutor asked to set a date for him to plead guilty. He is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 6.

Olympia defense attorney James Dixon said they are close to an agreement, but haven’t finalized it yet.

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Read the news story from Thursday Aug. 19, 2010 when police served a search warrant at the Muffler Hut here

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