Community Corner

Police Say Grow Operation Busted in Mount Pleasant

A Mount Pleasant man is accused of operating a pot growing operation out of his home.

A 26-year-old Mount Pleasant man is facing felony drug charges after deputies from the Racine County Metro Drug Unit say they busted his marijuana growing operation.

Matthew Nelson was charged Thursday in Racine County Circuit Court with felony manufacture of marijuana, two felony counts of possession with intent to deliver, and one felony count of maintaining a drug trafficking place. If convicted, he faces up to 19 years in jail and/or up to $40,000 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint, deputies with the Racine County Drug Unit contacted Nelson outside his home on May 23 and received permission to search Nelson's house. Inside, they found what they called a "sophisticated grow room" with 11 marijuana plants, three pounds of plant matter, 278 grams of marijuana bud, about .6 grams of hash and a variety of items used in a drug manufacturing operation like a scale, and packaging materials.

When he was interviewed by officers, Nelson described his sales at about a quarter-ounce per week to other people. He also explained how he made hash in buckets using ice and filters, the complaint reads, and that he had a number of books as reference material for his operation.

Nelson was assigned a $10,000 signature bond during his initial appearance with the conditions that he not consume or possess any illegal substances and that he submit to regular and random drug testing. His preliminary hearing is set for July 18.


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