POLICE CORPORAL, HUSBAND SURRENDER IN POT CASE

Lincoln Couple Faces Charge Of Growing Marijuana With Intent To Deliver

LINCOLN - Lincoln police Cpl. Diana R. Short, 46, and her husband, John T.
Short, 41, were arrested Thursday on charges they were growing marijuana
for illegal distribution.

State task force officers raided the Short residence Wednesday and
discovered 15 marijuana plants in a "grow room," according to Logan County
State's Attorney Tim Huyett, who issued the arrest warrants Thursday morning.

Authorities said the Shorts surrendered Thursday night at the Logan County
Jail and were scheduled to appear in court today.

Diana and John Short, a paramedic for the Logan County Paramedics
Association, each face two Class III felony charges of unlawful manufacture
of marijuana and unlawful manufacture of marijuana with intent to deliver.

If convicted, they face up to five years in prison and a fine of $50,000
for growing more than 30 but less than 500 grams of marijuana.

They also face a lesser charge of unlawful possession of marijuana plants,
a Class IV felony, which carries a sentence of up to three years in prison.

Because Diana Short is a Lincoln police officer, Huyett also charged her
with official misconduct, a Class III felony.

Huyett said he will likely summon a grand jury in early January, which will
decide whether to indict the Shorts on any or all of the charges.

Huyett said a confidential source having intimate knowledge of activity
inside the Shorts' residence at 501 N. Hamilton St. told authorities the
Shorts were growing marijuana.

In their search early Wednesday, police discovered marijuana and products
used for marijuana production inside a trash can outside the couple's
residence, Huyett said.

Based on the tip from the source and the evidence found searching the
Shorts' garbage, a judge granted police a warrant to search their entire
residence, he said.

In addition to the 15 mature marijuana plants found in the basement, Huyett
said police also found numerous firearms.

Finding several firearms inside a police officer's house would not be
uncommon, but police also learned that neither Short nor her husband have
valid Firearm Owner Identification cards, as required by Illinois law.

Huyett said John Short does not have a valid FOID card, and Diana Short had
allowed her FOID card to expire more than a year ago. He also said police
officers are exempt from FOID card laws only while they are "engaged in the
execution of their official duties."

He said charges regarding the apparent illegal possession of the firearms
are pending.

Diana Short is a seven-year veteran with the Lincoln police and was
promoted Nov. 4 from patrolman to corporal.