65-year-old charged for alleged marijuana grow operation

Published 1:13 pm Wednesday, March 2, 2011

KIESTER — A 65-year-old rural Kiester man is facing a felony drug charge for allegedly conducting a 32 plant marijuana grow operation in his home.

Patrick Michael Marley faces one count of fifth-degree drug possession in Faribault County District Court after deputies and the South Central Drug Investigation Unit executed a search warrant and discovered the plants, along with ready-to-sell bags, a scale and other drug paraphernalia. His charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

The search was conducted after Faribault County deputies received a tip about a possible marijuana growing operation at the residence.

Email newsletter signup

Power records for the house, obtained by deputies after the tip, indicated energy consumption was three to four times that of a similarly sized house.

Thermal imaging of the property conducted after power records were collected indicated there “was likely a marijuana growing operation was taking place inside the residence,” court records state.

At the time the search was conducted, Marley and one other person were found inside the house. Marley reportedly told authorities that the operation was all his, and the other person had nothing to do with it.

Marley reportedly posted a bond Monday and is next scheduled to appear in court March 7.

Authorities seized the following items from the house:

• 14 marijuana plants from the northeast basement room

• 18 marijuana plants from the southeast basement room

• One manual scale from the southeast upstairs room

• One gallon bag of green substance from the southeast upstairs bedroom

• One plastic bag of green substance from the southeast upstairs bedroom

• One sunlight power supply from the northeast basement room

• Two grow lights with light bulbs from the southeast basement room

• Nine grow light bulbs from the basement

• One bag of green substance from the living room center table

• Two bags of green substance from the living room

• One bag of marijuana stems from the living room

• One bag of marijuana leaves from the living room

• One box of miscellaneous pipes and lighters

• Cell phones

• Cash of $260 found close to the marijuana