Prosecutors Eye Former Music Store Owner's Bond Money in Marijuana Case

The former owner of a music store in Tinley Park, who was accused of shipping 14 pounds of marijuana to himself at an Elmhurst storage facility, won a minor victory in court when a judge cut his bail in half.

That recent decision prompted prosecutors to ask for a closer look at any money Houston Muthart wants to use to get out of DuPage County Jail, saying they fear the bond money might be drug money.

Muthart, 59, was arrested last month when agents from the DuPage Metropolitan Enforcement Group intercepted a FedEx package destined for the storage unit he rented in Elmhurst. Muthart "told law enforcement that the package contained weed, but was for personal use," court records show.

Prosecutors contend that much marijuana "is not a personal use amount" and estimated its value at about $68,000. Investigators also located text messages from people that "owed" Muthart money, records show.

A grand jury indicted Muthart on one count of possessing more than 5,000 grams of marijuana with intent to deliver.

Muthart was originally held on $500,000 bail, but the amount was reduced last week to $250,000. Prosecutors immediately expressed concerned about where the bond money might come from and want a hearing on the issue. Muthart's attorney has yet to file a formal response.

"If the defendant posts bond in this case, it is believed that the bond money will come from proceeds of the crime in this case, or the proceeds of cannabis or narcotics dealing," prosecutors wrote in their motion.

Muthart is scheduled for a hearing Feb. 22, when he is also expected to be arraigned.

Muthart and his wife owned and operated the now-defunct Threshold Music Center at 7901 159th St., Tinley Park, until early 2008, five weeks after . As of late last year, no charges had been filed in that case.