Investigators with Lincoln County's Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team (NET) arrested Lincoln County Commissioner Matthew Bass, 46, of Troy, on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, for two counts of possession of a Controlled Substance.

Narcotics investigators had received tips from the community that Bass was routinely purchasing illegal prescription painkillers from area drug dealers.  Investigators began looking into the complaints, and soon discovered Bass was in fact engaging in illegal activities.

On November 4, 2009, narcotics investigators observed Bass illegally purchasing morphine and the highly potent prescription painkiller fentanyl. The fentanyl patch is often prescribed to terminally ill cancer patients to assist them with pain management, and has been linked to numerous deaths throughout the Saint Louis Metropolitan area because of illicit use.  The transaction took place in the parking lot of a Troy area business. Through their investigation, narcotics detectives learned that Bass was seeking to obtain larger quantities of the illegal painkillers than what he had already purchased.

In the probable cause statement, Bass indicated to detectives that he purchased the pills because of back pain he is under and explained he was scheduled to have a surgery soon.

Bass has been charged with two counts of the Class C Felony, Possession of a Controlled Substance through the Missouri State Attorney General's Office.
Bass is currently being held at the Lincoln County Jail on a $20,000 cash only bond.

Bass is completing his first year as county commissioner, having been elected in November, 2008, Many question about his retention of his seat. He can resign or retain his seat but would have to resign if convicted of the charges. 

He previously served as an alderman in the City of Troy.

Those accused of a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.