CRIME

Sheriff's Office seized 130 marijuana plants in Chaparral

Duane Barbati
Alamogordo Daily News
Otero County Sheriff's Office deputies seized 130 marijuana plants from a 61-year-old Chaparral woman's home Friday.

CHAPARRAL – Otero County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested a 61-year-old Chaparral woman for alleged marijuana distribution Friday after an OCSO detective discovered 130 marijuana plants growing in the woman’s backyard while investigating an unrelated and separate incident, an OCSO spokeswoman said.

OCSO Undersheriff Liliana McDowell-Schnell said Candace Wilson is charged with one count of fourth-degree felony distribution of marijuana. She was jailed at the Otero County Detention Center in lieu of bond pending her appearance in court.

McDowell-Schnell said OCSO deputies and detectives obtained a search warrant for Wilson’s home in the 100 block of Irma Road around 9 a.m. Friday then seized the marijuana plants. She said Wilson was allegedly growing the marijuana behind her trailer that sits on about an acre and a half of land.

“Wilson had 130 plants ranging in size from 18 inches to 12 feet growing in her backyard,” McDowell-Schnell said. “Wilson previously had a medical cannabis license to grow and use marijuana for medicinal use, however her license expired in July. The state statue reads she can only have up to four mature flowering plants and up to 12 seedling plants. Wilson is way in violation.”

She said an OCSO detective was in the area investigating an unrelated and separate matter when they discovered the plants.

“While going to the other residence, the detective could actually see the plants from the street,” McDowell-Schnell said. “He decided to look into it. The detective talked to some of the neighbors. They said the resident was an older woman and had a license to grow marijuana so the neighbors weren’t too concerned.”

She said the detective questioned Wilson about the marijuana plants at her home.

McDowell-Schnell said Wilson allegedly told the detective that her license expired in July but she would be applying for another license.

“She had not applied for one, she hasn’t yet and she’s in violation of what the state allows her to grow anyways,” she said. “Wilson had a sprinkler system so it was growing nicely.”