BUST NETS 84 MARIJUANA PLANTS

Boone Police recently seized 84 marijuana plants and growing equipment
at a King Street residence.

On Sept. 28 narcotics investigator A.L. Lebeau responded to W.
King Street in reference to a citizen complaint regarding drug
activity. The complaint was actually in regard to activity at another
residence in the King Street apartment complex, but Lebeau said he
smelled marijuana coming from another apartment.

Lebeau said as he was leaving the complex to obtain a search warrant,
the tenant of the suspected apartment arrived and allowed him to
conduct a search in his apartment.

Lebeau found 84 marijuana plants ranging in height from one to four
feet and growing lights, ballasts and fertilizers. The amount of
saleable marijuana already harvested and still on the plants totaled
six pounds, which has a street value of about $3,000 to $5,000 per
pound, Lebeau said.

The apartment tenant is the only suspect in the case, and he and his
attorney are cooperating with police. Lebeau said the suspect does not
pose a flight risk and probably will not be arrested until after the
case is brought before the grand jury.

"He's [the suspect] a nice guy that just slipped up and made a
mistake," Lebeau said.

The suspect will likely be charged with manufacturing marijuana and
possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, both felonies under
North Carolina law, Lebeau said. He did not know if the marijuana was
intended to be distributed locally or trafficked to other areas.

"We've had about five or six busts in the past couple of years in
Boone that were about this size," Lebeau said.

He added that this particular bust was actually one of the
smallest.

"It's surprising how much marijuana is grown in Boone," Lebeau said.
Boone Police Chief Bill Post said that Appalachian State University
affects the amount of marijuana grown and used in Boone, but adds that
he thinks the amount of marijuana in Boone is normal compared to other
college towns.

"I don't know how much of an impact it [the bust] will have on this
area," Lebeau said. "People have several different supply options."

Lebeau added that much of the marijuana distributed among Appalachian
State students is brought from students' homes.

University Police officer Major Larry Foster said marijuana possession
among Appalachian State students is fairly common.

"We have responded weekly to the dorms and have written students up
for possession and use of marijuana," Foster said. "Usually if it's a
student's first offense, we refer them to judicial affairs."