UPDATED REPORT

CRITTENDEN COUNTY, KY - A community is reacting to a local pastor arrested on federal drug charges.

The man was one of three men arrested and charged in connection with a marijuana-growing operation.

A federal grand jury indicted the men November 9 and the arrests happened this week. All three live in Crittenden County, Kentucky and face charges of conspiracy to manufacture marijuana. Federal prosecutors said the men grew marijuana beginning this spring to last month and had 394 plants

Investigators arrested 57-year-old Alvin "Nicky" Davis, 37-year-old Carl "C.J." Belt and 67-year-old Charles "Bobby" Blackburn (pictured left to right in photo). Davis was a pastor at a church in Webster County, Kentucky.

A WPSD Local 6 crew spoke with a number of people in the Crittenden County community who said Alvin Davis is every well known, mainly because of his role as a pastor. While he was pastor of a church in Webster County he also was pastor of Marion General Baptist in Marion at one time.

Don Cruce who lives in the area said word of the arrests is travelling quickly through town.

"Well, it doesn't happen everyday so I think it's a little bit troublesome. I'm surprised it doesn't happen more often in today's modern society but that's just the way it is," Cruce said. "A person doesn't like to see that kind of thing, I don't think so. It's a little troublesome."

Investigators said Pastor Davis also owned a building in Marion, Kentucky where they harvested the plants. If the men are convicted the maximum penalty is 40 years in prison with a minimum term of five years, a $2 million fine and supervised release of at least four years and up to life.

OFFICIAL NEWS RELEASE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE:

PADUCAH, KY - A federal grand jury in Paducah returned an indictment on November 9, 2009, against Alvin Nicholas Davis a/k/a Nicky, age 57 who was a pastor at a Webster County church, Charles Robert Blackburn a/k/a Bobby, age 67 and Carl Russell Belt, Jr. a/k/a C.J., age 37, all of Crittenden County, on charges of conspiracy to manufacture marijuana , United States Attorney Candace G. Hill of the Western District of Kentucky announced today.

The Indictment alleges that in or about and between Spring 2009 and October, 2009, Davis, Blackburn and Belt knowingly conspired together and with other persons known and unknown to the grand jury to knowingly and intentionally manufacture 100 or more marijuana plants in Crittenden County, Kentucky, and elsewhere. In addition, the Indictment also seeks forfeiture of a building and property owned by Davis in Marion, Kentucky where harvested marijuana was found.

In the event of a conviction, the maximum potential penalties are 40 years' imprisonment with a mandatory minimum term of 5 years' imprisonment, a $2,000,000 fine, and supervised release for a period of at least 4 years and up to life.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michele Thielhorn, and it was investigated by the Kentucky State Police with the assistance of the Crittenden County Sheriff's Department. The indictment of a person by a Grand Jury is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

6P.M. REPORT

MARION, KY - Three men including a local pastor were arrested and indicted for growing marijuana.

57-year-old Alvin Davis, 67-year-old Charles Blackburn and 37-year-old Carl Belt Junior of Crittenden County were charged with conspiracy to manufacture marijuana.

Prosecutors said Davis was a pastor at a church in Webster County. A federal grand jury indicted all three men. Prosecutors said the men grew marijuana beginning this spring to last month and had 394 plants.

Investigators said Pastor Davis also owned a building in Marion, Kentucky where they were harvesting the plants.