Police found nearly 300 marijuana plants growing in a barn just outside of Johnson County in an investigation that included the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.
Larry Dean Miller, 43, 4558 N. Banta Road, Bargersville, was arrested on a charge of dealing/cultivating marijuana with a prior drug offense.
This is the second time Miller has been arrested after police found a marijuana growing operation, according to a report from the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office.
Miller was arrested in 2012 after deputies found a marijuana growing operation that had recently been dismantled in the 5500 block of Stones Crossing Road. He pleaded guilty to a felony charge of possession of marijuana and was sentenced to probation. The charge was later reduced to a misdemeanor, according to court records.
On Friday, police got a search warrant for his home and property off Banta Road, just on the other side of the Morgan County line. Johnson County Sheriff’s Office deputies, DEA officers, Morgan County Sheriff’s Office deputies and the Indiana State Police Eradication Team were part of the raid, Sheriff Doug Cox said.
Inside a barn on the property, police found a marijuana growing operation with 289 plants, including 194 plants ready for harvest, according to the police report. Police also found grow lights, timers, ventilation, fans and watering buckets, the report said.
Police also found more marijuana and rolling papers, pipes and other paraphernalia inside the home, which Miller said was for his personal use, the report said.
When police searched Miller’s phone, they found text messages about selling marijuana, the report said.
Miller was arrested and taken to the Morgan County jail.
