According to information from the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office – the former Chairman of the Cherokee County GOP, has been indicted by a grand jury on the charges of Trafficking Marijuana and the Unlawful Possession of Marijuana 1st Degree.

John Lloyd Ellis, age 52 of Ellisville, was booked into the Cherokee County Detention Center at 1:46pm Tuesday (September 2nd) and was released at 2:52pm after meeting his $50,000 bond.

Ellis was arrested July 11th during a drug eradication sweep conducted by the State Bureau of Investigation and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office. According to Sheriff Jeff Shaver, a total of 13 marijuana plants were discovered at Ellis’ residence during the operation.

He was taken into custody at the scene, and charged with Unlawful Possession of Marijuana 1st Degree and with Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Ellis had been an adjunct instructor of political science at Jacksonville State University, and the week following his arrest – JSU spokesperson Angie Finley announced that Ellis was no longer employed by the school.

According to Ellis’ resume – which had been posted on the JSU website prior to being taken down that week, he had been an adjunct professor at the school from “Fall 2000 to present” – teaching courses in American Government as well as state and local government.

Finley said Ellis was last employed with the university during the Spring 2014 semester.

On Tuesday July 15th, WEIS Radio News received a letter stating that the Cherokee County Republican Executive Committee had accepted Ellis’ resignation as Chairman.

No word yet on when a trial date will be set.