Area man convicted of growing marijuana
WAYNESBURG – A Waynesburg man who was convicted of growing marijuana on the front porch of his Greene Street home last year was sentenced to up to one year in jail Wednesday by Greene County Judge Lou Dayich.
Kevin M. Christopher, 36, of 714 E. Greene St., was found guilty by a jury May 24 of possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance, possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Christopher was sentenced to six months to one year in jail and given credit for six months he served between June 22 and Dec. 23, 2015. He also was fined $300.
Christopher was returned to SCI-Greene, where he is being held for a parole violation regarding a previous conviction for growing marijuana.
On June 21, 2015, Waynesburg police went to Christopher’s home after receiving a report he was growing marijuana. Police said as they walked up the steps to the main entrance they could plainly see marijuana plants growing among tomato plants in white buckets on the porch.
Christopher admitted to police he was growing marijuana, but explained been told as long as he had fewer than seven plants it was legal and police wouldn’t care. Christopher told police he had five plants on the porch and two plants growing on a window sill inside.
His previous offense also involved growing marijuana in his home.
In November 2010, police found a hydroponic marijuana growing operation in two hidden rooms in the Greene Street home and 59 marijuana plants. Police said the electric meter to the house also had been bypassed.
In June 2012, Christopher pleaded guilty to manufacture of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia and theft of services. He was sentenced to 27 to 54 months in prison.