According to tampabay.com, 42-year-old Ridge Manor man has been arrested for allegedly growing about 50 marijuana plants inside the mobile home parked behind his residence. Last week, Hernando County law enforcement received a tip from a confidential informant who told them about the mobile home operation and when police arrived at the home, they found the marijuana plants, light fixtures, several ballasts and a carbon filter–all which are instruments commonly used to grow marijuana.
The man was charged with cultivating marijuana and public nuisance and bail has been set at $15,000.
Last year, Governor Christ signed into law the “2009->Ch0893->Section%2013#0893.13″target=blank”>Marijuana Grow House Eradication Act” which gives law enforcement and prosecutors more power to combat those who grow marijuana. The law now makes it a second-degree felony to grow 25 or more plants. In the past, a person had to have more than 300 plants to reach the level of a second degree felony. A second degree felony can be punished by up to fifteen (15) years in prison–this is why it is very important to have an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side to fight for your rights and hold law enforcement to their burden of proof.
If you have been arrested for a drug-related offense, you need an experienced attorney to advise you on how to proceed. The legal team at Whittel & Melton, LLC only accepts a limited amount of cases in order to devote the most amount of time to each Florida drug trafficking or drug possession case. When retained, our team will immediately begin to protect your rights and develop a strategy for your defense. We have offices throughout the state of Florida including Tampa, New Port Richey, Spring Hill, Brooksville, Inverness, Bushnell, Ocala and Gainesville; please contact us for a consultation at 866-608-5529.