College Station tenant charged in drug bust

Last edited 4:29 p.m., Oct. 27, 2011

Travis Dibben, owner of the soon-to-open Nine of Clubs comedy club at College Station, yesterday was charged in Greene County Circuit Court with the distribution of a controlled substance, a class B felony.

According to a Springfield Police Department probable cause statement, Police officer Nelson Kibby contacted a confidential informant to arrange for the purchase of cocaine from brothers Travis and Tyler Dibben in March 2010. Travis Dibben allegedly told the informant that he had an "eight ball," or 3.5 grams of cocaine, available for $220. According to the probable cause statement, Kibby and the informant met the brothers at a predetermined location - 4125 S. National Ave., the site of a Braum's Ice Cream & Dairy‎ - and purchased the cocaine for the said amount. Tyler Dibben also was charged.

The substance, weighing 2.52 grams, was tested at the Missouri State Highway Patrol Crime Lab and found to contain cocaine salt, a Schedule II controlled substance.

Travis Dibben signed a lease four months ago with leasing agent Sperry Van Ness/Rankin Co. LLC at the long-vacant College Station development. The club, which is partnering with Steak-Out for food offerings, was scheduled to open Dec. 2.

Neither Dibben nor College Station owner and developer Scott Tillman could be reached for comment by deadline.

Dibben's attorney, Stuart Huffman of Whiteaker & Wilson PC, said in a news release sent the afternoon of Oct. 27 that Dibben pleaded not guilty to the drug charge and, at the request of his counsel, will not be making a statement to the public until further information is known.

"Counsel for Mr. Dibben are investigating the case, and Mr. Dibben denies any wrongdoing," Huffman said in the release. "As such, Mr. Dibben will continue to work with private and public officials toward the grand opening of his comedy club, Nine of Clubs, on Dec. 9."

Tim Roth, senior adviser with Sperry Van Ness/Rankin, said from Colorado he hadn't yet heard of the charges against Dibben. Roth said he hopes the charges won't affect the lease agreement at College Station.

"(Dibben has) got a lease document, and he's responsible for that document," Roth said.

Bail for Dibben was recommended and set for $15,000 because he is currently on felony probation and had been placed on probation six months prior to the offense. According to the court documents, Dibben previously has pleaded guilty in Greene County to three felony charges: passing bad checks, receiving stolen property and stealing by deceit. He also has three felony guilty pleas in Christian County for passing bad checks. Additionally, he has misdemeanor convictions for DWI, stealing, resisting arrest and property damage, and has been arrested for tampering, forgery, failure to appear, probation violation, two second-degree assaults and armed criminal actions, stealing, passing bad checks, kidnapping, resisting arrest and harassment.

Huffman said Dibben was released on his own recognizance and was not required to post bail.

With the bond, special conditions were set requiring Dibben to obey all laws, not to posses or consume drugs unless by legal prescription, and not to possess weapons.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 28.[[In-content Ad]]