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Domestic dispute leads authorities to 400 marijuana plants
Published: August 04, 2009
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By Mark Bowes
Media General News Service

A domestic dispute between a husband and wife led Powhatan County deputies on Sunday to about 400 mature marijuana plants concealed on the couple’s property, police said.

The husband, John Paul Russell Sr., 57, was charged with domestic assault and manufacturing marijuana at his home in the Little Fighting Creek subdivision off state Route 13, about a mile east of the Powhatan Courthouse area. His wife told deputies about the marijuana, which was camouflaged with other plants behind a shed, authorities said.

“It’s a pretty significant grow operation when you get 400 plants,“ Lt. Kevin R. Wolfe of the Powhatan Sheriff’s Office said yesterday. “That’s the most I’ve seen since I’ve been here, in 1996.“

Police received a call just before 10 a.m. Sunday about a person with a weapon. When officers arrived, they learned that Russell’s son, who lived elsewhere, had brandished a gun in response to the fight between his parents, Lt. Randy Stickels said.

Russell’s wife then informed deputies about the plants, Stickels said.

Wolfe said he didn’t know how much marijuana the plants would produce. “We have not got the lab analysis back on it to give us that information,“ he said.
Wolfe declined to say whether investigators found any harvested marijuana inside the house. Deputies cut down the marijuana crop and placed it in storage pending further investigation, police said.

Russell was being held in the Powhatan Correctional Center in lieu of $50,000 bail. He is scheduled to appear in court tomorrow.

Mark Bowes is a staff writer at the Richmond Times-Dispatch.



Reader Comments


John P. Russell of powhatan, virginia
Jul. 11, 2011, 08:25 PM

In order to set the record straight for anyone who reads this stuff, I offer the following:
1. My wife never charged me with any abuse.  The charge was brought upon me by the sheriff’s dept and was dismissed when the facts came out in court.
2. My wife did not report the marijuana patch.  It came from a 3rd party in the county. Mr Stickels words are incorrect.
3. The branishing call to the county came from me. The weapon was never pointed at me or my wife and had nothing to do with us. Mr Stickels words are incorrect again.
4. Powhatan co. never did any lab analysis.
5. Of course Mr. Wolfe declined to state if any evidence of sales were found, although a detailed search of my home, business, and financial records were performed.  Of course nothing was found, there wasn’t anything to find because I never sold any marijuana to anybody ever.  This fact later came out in court.
“Let me tell the truthfull facts”
The plants had never been cultivated, cut, sold or in any way being prepared for sale. The assault charge that the county brought against me was dropped when the facts came to light. I had no choice but to accept the charge because the plants were on my property.  I was sentenced to 0 jail time (and that means 0, not a suspended sentence) and was fined $4000.00. In this case the punishment fits the crime.
Now let us move on with our lives as this has been good for no one.
Thanks
JPR


Bo Bailey of nrv
May. 23, 2011, 11:21 AM

Dear “Friend”,
Your comments about domestic violence are more than likely an attempt to be funny, needless to say they fall short. Comments like these contribute to the notion that domestic violence can be “understood” in certain circumstances. Domestic violence is a real problem involving real people. As a man I can say only a coward would abuse a woman or child. Next time maybe just keep your comedic attempts to your circle of friends while you are celebrating 4:20.


Mary Jane
Oct. 14, 2009, 02:17 PM

Goodness, If I Found 400 Plants I Think I Would Get A Boner


joe of Powhatan
Sep. 6, 2009, 01:38 PM

everyone is worried about wal-mart bringing in the bad eggs!


Friend of Richmond
Aug. 5, 2009, 12:49 PM

WOW!!!! It’s a lot of drugs in Powhatan County. Mr. Russell you have the right to kick her A@# for telling the Police about your plants. Mr. Russell you should have kick her a!@ so she couldn’t tell the cop. I don’t promote men hitting on women, but in this case i would have to put foot in her a!@.


Powhatan Mom of Western Powhatan
Aug. 5, 2009, 12:03 PM

Good job ! Glad they got ‘em !
We Moms don’t want your stinkin’ drugs offered to our kids here in Powhatan.
Enjoy the jailhouse.


Resident of Powhatan
Aug. 4, 2009, 05:17 PM

Dangit. It’s always 4:20 in ole Ptown.




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