Two men have been charged with possession of between 50 and 2,000 pounds of marijuana after the search of a San Leon home allegedly led to the discovery of an elaborate marijuana growing operation. The search was conducted on Nov. 28 by deputies from the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office and members of the office’s Special Crimes Unit, Identification Division and Tactical Response Team.

Deputies say that the Avenue K residence had been converted into a sophisticated marijuana growing enterprise. During the search, deputies are said to have discovered 124 marijuana plants and about 25 pounds of marijuana buds that had already been cultivated. Equipment used to grow and cultivate marijuana was found inside the home along with $3,167 in cash according to media accounts of the operation. Evidence was also discovered that led deputies to a second residence where an additional 4 pounds of cultivated marijuana and $3,150 in currency were seized.

The two men were taken into custody at the scene without incident. Both of the men had been identified during the narcotics investigation and were named on the search warrant according to reports. Both of their bonds have been set at $250,000.

The penalties for marijuana possession can be severe when large quantities of the drug are involved, but proving narcotics charges beyond reasonable doubt is often far from straightforward for prosecutors. Experienced criminal defense attorneys may seek to have seized drugs excluded when police strayed beyond boundaries established by the Fourth Amendment or judges issuing search warrants, and the defense might also question the evidence used to obtain search warrants. Attorneys may advise prosecutors to avoid such arguments by settling drug cases at the negotiating table.

Source: KHOU, Deputies discover ‘elaborate, indoor high-grade marijuana grow’ in San Leon, Jamie Galvan, Nov. 29, 2018