Pot found in yard
Published 11:59 pm Wednesday, August 26, 2009
For the second time in less than a year, Drug Task Force agents have arrested a man for growing marijuana in his yard.
Tuesday, Billy Jones, 49, was arrested and charged with trafficking marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia after DTF agents found seven “pot plants” scattered throughout Jones’ Snuffy Road home.
DTF agent Paul Hudson said the law enforcement agency had received “information” about the plants in the yard and were able to obtain a search warrant.
“Once we received the information, we were able to act rather quickly,” he said. “We found that the plants ranged in size from rather large to small,” Hudson said. “Three of the seven had some of the biggest stalks we had seen in quite a while. I’d say those probably were anywhere between seven to eight feet tall. We also found some marijuana that had been pulled off the plants.”
Hudson said the plants were found in flowerbeds and in other spots in the yard.
When asked if Jones didn’t think the plants were visible in the yard, Hudson said, “Apparently not.”
Hudson said under Alabama law, those found to be in possession of more than 2.2 pounds of marijuana can be charged with trafficking, and while Hudson was unsure of the exact amount of marijuana found, he did estimate its street value at approximately $25,000.
“It’s definitely the largest quantity we’ve found in a while,” he said.
Jones was booked into the Covington County Jail and bond on the drug charges was set at $500,000; however, he is currently being held without bond on three counts of failure to appear.
In May, a Red Level man was caught allegedly growing four marijuana plants in his yard. He was charged with first-degree possession.