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Highlands Today

Growhouse No. 44 Seized

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By Joe  Seelig | Highlands Today

Published: September 5, 2007

While a dismantled growhouse operation was found in the master bedroom of 4218 Maserati Drive, a fully operational grow operation was located in the garage late Friday afternoon.

When Highlands County Sheriff's Office Special Investigations Unit Sgt. John Singha and Det. Jared Futch arrived at 4:15 p.m. Friday, they found Yamilet Groeiro Mondejar, 35, at home.

A short time later her husband, Santiago Miguel Gonzalez, 35, arrived. He gave investigators permission to go inside and have a look. While signing the consent form, Gonzalez told them he had 40 plants growing inside, the arrest report stated.

It was actually 49 plants, exceeding 25 pounds.

During the investigation Gonzalez told investigators he had diverted power from the electric company, the report stated. The power diversions are generally done to mask the high consumption of power from the electrical company, the report stated.

Investigators seized marijuana growing equipment such as 1,000-watt grow lights, plant containers, fertilizer, electrical ballasts, a carbon dioxide tank, elaborate climate control equipment, irrigation and electrical equipment.

The husband and wife shared a secondary bedroom across from the bedroom of their teenage sons, the report stated.

The report was unclear what happened to the teenage boys.

Both Gonzalez and Mondejar remained in Highlands County Jail on $202,500 bond each, on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, marijuana production, grand theft $300 or more but less than $5,000, and trafficking in marijuana in excess of 25 pounds or 300 plants or more.

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