Drug Task Force officers found 36 marijuana plants growing in a Marlette basement during a raid on Feb. 22. (Photo courtesy of Drug Task Force)

According to Drug Task Force Director William Gray, Task Force officers and officers from the Marlette Police Department searched the home in the 6300 block of Morris Street in Marlette. They found $36,000 worth of marijuana plants; $30,000 worth of processed marijuana; over $12,800 in cash, and a loaded shotgun.

Gray said, the 67-year old man told officers he had the shotgun for protection after a mysterious recent series of four burglaries of his home.

The former owner of Zorn's IGA, who has no significant prior criminal record, faces potential charges of: manufacture more than 20 marijuana plants; possession with intent to deliver marijuana; possession of a firearm in commission of a felony; and maintaining a drug house, with penalty enhancement for proximity to school grounds. The home is within 1,000 feet of a Marlette school.

Gray explained due to the number of marijuana plants seized, the law calls for more lengthy crime lab testing procedures because the potential penalty increases from a four year to a seven-year felony.

Gray said, they released Zorn pending the results of the crime lab tests.

According to Gray, the officers discovered a three-stage indoor marijuana growing operation in the basement. There were three separate marijuana-growing areas set up for specific stages of the cultivation process.

The first area had 20 small marijuana plants in starter cups under grow lights and an artificial watering system. In a second room, 10 potted three-foot tall marijuana plants were growing under two large grow lights with a watering hose running in from the main basement area. In a third room, they found six mature marijuana plants growing under a large grow light that was mounted to an automated moving ceiling track. The light moved slowly across the length of the room to make sure every plant received the same and ideal amount of light to facilitate optimum growth.

"It was the best growing operation I've seen," said Gray.

He said, the officers also found about nine pounds of processed marijuana in a basement refrigerator, and more processed marijuana in the kitchen and upstairs, along with digital scales and packaging materials. They found the cash upstairs next to a loaded 20-gauge shotgun. The officers also seized a computer, a 1996 Cadillac and a 2001 Buick.

Due to the size of the operation, they called in additional officers from the Sheriff Road Patrol to help secure evidence.

Lt. Brian McGinnis and Officer Steve Lautner of the Marlette Police Department assisted the Task Force along with Sgt. Robert Willis of the Sheriff Department.