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Larry Zorn, 67, former owner of Zorn's IGA, requested a preliminary exam at his arraignment Thursday in 73rd District Court. The exam date is June 23. He is charged with deliver-manufacture 5-45 kilograms of marijuana, delivery-manufacture marijuana, weapons felony firearms and maintaining a drug house.

Although the drug raid occurred in February, Zorn's arraignment was delayed because of the time needed to test the large 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.

Officers from the Sanilac County Drug Task Force and Marlette Police Department seized $36,000 worth of suspected marijuana plants, $30,000 worth of suspected processed marijuana, over $12,800 in cash, and a loaded shotgun at Zorn's residence on Feb. 22.

Task Force Director William Gray said at the time Zorn told the police he had the shotgun for protection after four mysterious burglaries of his house.

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, including a large grow light that was mounted to an automated moving ceiling track.

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.