A California transplant is facing drug charges after a raid on his Gay Road home netted an indoor grow house full of marijuana.
The suspect, Rick Leroy Randall, 45, is charged with manufacture of marijuana after the Tuesday raid on his home in the North Hills subdivision just south of Dibrell.
He was arrested after authorities obtained information he was conducting the illegal enterprise out of the house he was renting. A joint team of agents from the sheriff’s department, McMinnville Police, district attorney’s office and TBI showed up at his house with a warrant to search the premises Tuesday.
The search proved fruitful as lawmen reported finding 42 marijuana plants, along with equipment used to grow the illegal crop including grow lighting, pots and fertilizer used to cultivate the indoor operation. Officers also found three pounds of marijuana.
Sheriff Jackie Matheny said a look into Randall’s prior record revealed this is not his first brush with the law. He recently moved to Warren County from California and has a prior criminal record in other states.
He will appear before General Sessions Judge Bill Locke this Tuesday for preliminary hearing. He is presently being held under $50,000 bond at Warren County Jail.
During his arraignment Tuesday before special Judge Larry Ross, Randall said he will likely not be able to make bond because he has no job.
“Looks like you’ve lost your cash crop too,” Ross quipped to Randall’s claim.