WOODSTOCK — Sheriff’s police seized about 100 marijuana plants after a patrol deputy questioned a man coming out of what he thought was an unoccupied house near Garden Prairie.
It turns out that no one was living at the house at 25106 Dunham Road, but police said a Streamwood man was growing marijuana in the upper level.
Police found 30 marijuana plants, about 19 pounds of marijuana, growing and packaging material and information about a second house in Garden Prairie.
Then, they found 70 marijuana plants, about 42 pounds of marijuana, 10 smoking pipes, and packaging materials on Jan. 25 at 6705 Olson Road near Union.
The Union house also had a bed in what might have been a living area and a working security-camera system.
Michael Sanchez, 23, of 3102 Lynnwood Court, and Joseph R. Mueller, 23, of 115 Cedar Circle, both of Streamwood, turned themselves in Friday.
Sanchez was charged in connection with the Garden Prairie-area house, while Mueller was charged in connection with the Union-area house, said Sgt. John Koziol of the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office.
Both the houses were rented, and police do not believe the pair were growing marijuana in any other area homes.
Mueller was charged with unlawful manufacturing of marijuana, unlawful possession of marijuana. Both Mueller and Sanchez were charged with unlawful production of marijuana plants and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.
Sanchez posted 10 percent of his $20,000 bail Friday. Mueller remained in McHenry County Jail on this afternoon, unable to post 10 percent of his $100,000 bail.
Both are due in court Thursday.
Mueller could be sentenced to between six and 30 years in prison if convicted of the most serious charge, which is typically punishable with probation or between two and five years in prison.
By JILLIAN DUCHNOWSKI, [email protected]
Read the original article from the Northwest Herald.