PROBATION AGENT CHARGED WITH GROWING MARIJUANA

Menomonie - A federal probation agent in Eau Claire has been charged with
running a marijuana-growing operation in his basement.

Timothy Easker, 40, was charged Monday in Dunn County with one felony count
of manufacturing marijuana. A 15-year employee of U.S. Pretrial and
Probation Services, he was suspended from his job after his arrest in May.

Agents raided Easker's rural Mondovi home in May and seized 26 marijuana
plants, 20 bags of marijuana and various items used to grow marijuana, such
as plant food, growing lights, water jugs, pipes and scales.

Easker told authorities that he used to buy marijuana but that his sources
got arrested. So he started growing his own, learning how to do it from
some of his clients, according to court records.

Easker was ordered to return to court Aug. 13.