Press release from the Texas County Sheriff’s Department:
On August 24, 2026, Texas County deputies in coordination with the South Central Drug Task force and Houston Police Department K-9 team conducted a traffic stop on a drug trafficking suspect.
The stop was initiated at approximately 7:34 PM, after deputies observed an equipment violation on the suspect vehicle near the intersection of Route C & Route CC north of Licking. During the traffic stop the drug detection dog gave a positive alert for the presence of controlled substances and search of the vehicle was conducted.
During the search deputies located methamphetamine and fentanyl. The occupants of the vehicle Payton Mordis, Thomas Stanton and Macie Mitchell-Hayes were arrested for drug trafficking. Mordis also had an active arrest warrant for probation violation related to drug trafficking. Mordis was later found to have more fentanyl concealed on her person. The suspects were transported to the Texas County Jail.
Texas County Prosecuting Attorney Parke Stevens charged Payton N. Mordis, age 33, of Licking with Trafficking Drugs (2 counts) and tampering with physical evidence. Mordis was incarcerated in the Texas County Jail pending a $10,000 cash only bond per Judge Ellsworth.
Thomas L. Stanton, age 27, of Houston was charged with Trafficking Drugs (2 counts and tampering with physical evidence. Stanton was incarcerated pending a $7,500 cash only bond per Judge Ellsworth.
Macie D. Mitchell-Hayes, age 35 of Licking, was charged with Trafficking Drugs (2 counts) and tampering with physical evidence. Mitchell-Hayes was incarcerated pending $7,500 cash only bond per Judge Ellsworth.
The South Central Drug Task Force is a multi-jurisdictional task force consisting of local law enforcement agencies coordinated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The Texas County Sheriff’s Office employs a deputy sheriff assigned to the drug task force. The above charges are mere accusations and are not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of the charges must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
