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Bust targets pot growers in northern counties



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By Thatcher Moats Times Argus Staff - Published: May 1, 2009

BARRE – Wednesday morning was less than mellow for six people arrested on charges of growing and possessing marijuana in Lamoille and Caledonia counties.

Police with search warrants were knocking on doors by 7 a.m. at four of the five houses they raided Wednesday, said a state police lieutenant.

Members of the Vermont Drug Task Force, the Vermont State Police, the Morristown Police Department and the Lamoille County Sheriff's Department searched two Hardwick residences and one residence each in Wolcott, Craftsbury and Elmore.

Police say they found growing operations with hundreds of marijuana plants at various stages of maturity, along with about two ounces of processed marijuana.

Nothing was seized from the Craftsbury residence, police said.

Five people were arrested on drug charges after the raid, which was the result of an investigation that began about six-months ago, said Lt. Glenn Hall, the commander of the state police special investigations unit.

Police arrested:

Michael Parker, 32, of Hardwick for felony counts of cultivation and possession of marijuana.

Heather Bryant, 37, of Hardwick for a felony count of cultivation of marijuana.

David Houriet, 40, of Hardwick for a felony count of cultivating marijuana.

Jeffrey Damico, 26, of Wolcott for felony possession of marijuana.

Anneleise Beach, 31, of Wolcott for felony cultivation of marijuana.

Glenn Coville, 36, of Craftsbury for felony cultivation of marijuana.

The six defendants were cited to appear in court in Lamoille and Caledonia counties on Thursday and Friday to face the charges.

Hall said the bust wasn't big but said the growers knew what they were doing.

"I wouldn't say it was very large-scale, but they were certainly somewhat sophisticated in that they knew what they were doing in terms of the operation itself — the lighting and the timers. And the plants were of good quality," said Hall.

At a Hardwick residence on Bridgman Hill Road, police said they found 144 pot plants. At a Wolcott residence on McKearny Road police said they found 102 plants.

Roughly $2,000 in cash was also seized on the bust, Hall said, adding he did not believe police found any other items that pointed to distribution of marijuana.

But the amount of marijuana indicates a distribution operation, he said.

"I think the quantity definitely indicates there was distribution," he said.

No firearms were seized, he said.

Aspects of the case are still being investigated, said Hall.







READER COMMENTS


@ Rich -

Getting drunk makes one temporarily stupid and belligerent.
Getting stoned makes one temporarily stupid and laid back.

@Slim -

I think your idea of funneling money from pot growing operations into the local community is right on. Realistically, however, marijuana will need to be decriminalized and available for medical use before the state can begin to tax it.
-- Posted by Tim Patterson on Sun, May 3, 2009, 9:26 am EST

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Please explain the difference to me between getting drunk and getting stoned. Thank you.
-- Posted by Rich None on Sun, May 3, 2009, 9:16 am EST

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So, we overlook crimes now by people that have children? I disagree. If these citizens were so concerned about their children and their community; they would have been giving this $1mil operation proceeds to their town..no? Instead they prey on our young children by providing a resource to make their minds sick. Think about how many $mil are being spent on drug counseling services for our young people.

I have been told that this stuff usually shows up at parties where alcohol is being used anyway; so what's up with that? Burglaries you say? Hmm. You ever think that the people who are spending their money on marijuana just might be connected to these sort of crimes?
-- Posted by Slim Redd on Sun, May 3, 2009, 5:41 am EST

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Total cost of this bust will probably run over a million dollars, especially once costs of supporting the accused kids are taken into account. Think for a minute about what a million dollars could do in your town right now to save jobs, help with health care and support struggling schools.

Marijuana busts should not be a major priority of the State unless we're talking about violent, dangerous offenders. I wish the police in the NEK would spend more time trying to crack the recent burglaries and less time going after good people who grow pot.

Pot is much less harmful than alcohol and should be decriminalized at the very least.
-- Posted by Tim Patterson on Sat, May 2, 2009, 7:18 am EST

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These people are "traffickers" and this does not make them upstanding members of this community nor any other in Vermont. I'm pleased to see that law enforcement are out doing their job. It's time we rid ourselves of people who refuse to obey the law. The fact that some people think that marijuana is harmless and decide that they can disobey the law or, choose to make up their own laws regardless...well; I hope they are prosecuted to the fullest extent. Can this operation be considered: Can you say "Dealers"
-- Posted by Slim Redd on Sat, May 2, 2009, 4:30 am EST

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It is funny when things go people's way they praise the folks they elected to govern the state. But as soon as a good old VT farmer is arrested these people are looked down upon. Have any of you thought that maybe this is what the majority of people want. When will you people pull your head out of the sand and realize there must be something behind marijuana being illegal. You question how much money it has cost to control marijuana but never has anyone booed the farmers who I am sure did not pay taxes on their little operation. I have a very hard time believing these folks were pillars of the community. If they were I would imagine they would have taken a different approach and petition the government so they can grow the marijuana for medical purposes rather than to sell it to kids on the streets! Shame on all of you for being so narrow minded and only thinking about how good weed is for you while you are sitting back at the cafe smoking a joint or two. Try deciding on the issue when you are a little more clear headed!
-- Posted by Mr. WTF on Fri, May 1, 2009, 9:06 pm EST

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We the people have elected others to represent ourselves. We are a self-governed state and country. The laws we desire are ours to enact. When the politician forgets that, it is time to replace the politician who will pursue the interests of themselves over the interests of their constituants. As a self-governing society, when laws are in place that do not favor the majority, we have the ability to change those laws. It is on our shoulders to make these changes.
As for me, I am making my view known to my elected representatives that I want these archaic laws repealed. It is time to move on to new thinking and new ways.
-- Posted by Rich None on Fri, May 1, 2009, 5:23 pm EST

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This is very sad news.

The accused are upstanding members of our community. To think that the police are spending thousands of dollars of our money busting harmless pot growers is infuriating. How much will this bust end up costing taxpayers - 1 million? 2 million? And for what? To ruin the lives of a few Vermont farmers.

The real question is how much longer we'll let our elected representatives continue to support a counter-productive and costly war on marijuana. The Vermont State police are only doing their jobs - its the politicians who demonize marijuana who need to be voted out of office.
-- Posted by Tim Patterson on Fri, May 1, 2009, 3:58 pm EST

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owlcat, pul-leeze, your TMZ quality wit is embarassing. maybe you need the doob to spark a little creativity.
-- Posted by neil arthur on Fri, May 1, 2009, 9:32 am EST

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wah. go smoke a doobie and deal with it... Puh-leeze...
-- Posted by owlcat on Fri, May 1, 2009, 6:56 am EST

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Shame! Shame on the anti-marijuana fanatics. A felony to grow a harmless plant? Why not outlaw growing tomatoes or radishes? Shame of the State of Vermont! Shame on the voters and politicians who perpetuate the anti-pot hysteria! And shame on the media for condoning this stupidity! And shame on you if you think someone growing one of God's own plants is a felon! Shame! Shame! Shame!
-- Posted by Ed on Fri, May 1, 2009, 5:28 am EST

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