St. Clair County judge issues ruling in case of Belleville smoke shop that was raided
A St. Clair County judge ruled Monday that the owner of a west Belleville smoke shop could be released from the county jail before his trial on drug and firearms charges.
Tiyon T. Moore, 26, owner of the Twinzo Smoke Shop at 6400 W. Main St., Suite 1C, was arrested last week after police seized marijuana, firearms, cash and other items in raids at a home in Swansea and at the smoke shop.
As of late Monday, Tiyon Moore was still in the process of being released from the St. Clair County jail, according to his twin brother, Tyland Moore.
St. Clair County Associate Judge Sara L. Rice ruled during a detention hearing that Tiyon Moore could be released before his trial, but he has to wear an electronic monitoring device.
Rice noted a “lack of any violent history” in Moore’s past.
Kristi Flint, a Clayton, Missouri, attorney who represented Moore in the detention hearing, told Rice that the firearms seized in the raids, including one at the store, were registered to another family member.
“He didn’t have a gun on him” when he was arrested, Flint said of Moore.
Moore was charged with the following offenses Friday:
- One felony count of unlawful possession with the intent to deliver cannabis.
- One felony count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
- One felony count of unlawful possession of firearm ammunition by a felon.
Court records show Moore previously was convicted of two felonies in St. Clair County:
- Aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude police.
- Unlawful possession of cannabis.
St. Clair County Assistant State’s Attorney Levi Carwile told Rice that “controlled purchases” of marijuana were made from Moore on Jan. 11, Jan. 17, Jan. 24 and Jan. 28. The prosecutor asked Rice to keep Moore in jail.
Belleville Police said last week 21 pounds of cannabis, three firearms, including one stolen, and 100 rounds of ammunition were seized in the raids conducted by the St. Clair County Drug Tactical Unit.
A sign on the door at the Twinzo Smoke Shop on Monday said “no trespassing” by order of the police chief. Another sign said the business’ commercial occupancy permit had been revoked as of Friday.
Illinois judges have been conducting detention hearings since September 2023 for people charged with serious offenses. If a judge considers a person dangerous to the community, the person can be remanded to the county jail until their trial, according to the revamped criminal justice system that eliminated cash bail as part of the Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today, or SAFE-T, Act.
Tyland Moore, who owns a Twinzo Smoke Shop in north St. Louis, said he agreed “100%” with Rice’s ruling in the detention hearing.
“In my eyes I see that she sees that he’s not a threat,” Tyland Moore said after the detention hearing. “He’s a business owner. He’s a great father.”
