Troy man charged with growing pot

A Troy man is facing felony charges after police executed a search warrant at his home and found that approximately 30 marijuana plants were being grown next to his residence in an outdoor plot.

Scott Hoffman, 38, was charged with manufacturing dangerous drugs. Troy police and county sheriff¹s deputies executed a search warrant for his residence along U.S. Highway 2 near the county shop following a tip from a witness who reported seeing him harvesting suspected marijuana plants growing in his yard.

According to an affidavit filed in justice court by Troy policeman Colin Barnett, officers found and seized several small plants as well as root balls that had been clipped off. Several containers containing a green leafy substance suspected to be marijuana were also seized, as were various items of drug paraphernalia.

According to the affidavit, Hoffman told Detective Jim Sweet he knew about the plants growing in his yard and admitted to cutting the plants but would not say where he had taken the plants he had harvested.

The plants were growing near a chain link fence in Hoffman¹s back yard and had been partially hidden by other foliage that had recently receded due to the fall weather, Sweet said.

If convicted, Hoffman would face a sentence of five years to life in prison and a fine of up to $50,000.