Man charged in 2007 grow house bust

A man was free Wednesday on $7,500 bail after he was charged in connection with a Nov. 21, 2007 grow house raid at his property at 2527 Van Pelt Road, in Sebring.

Van Pelt Road is directly east of Dinner Lake and connects with Arbuckle Creak Road.

Juan Manuel Mato, 50, of Sebring and Miami-Dade County, was charged on warrants with grand theft more than $20,000 but less than $100,000, fraud tampering with or theft of utility or cable services, marijuana production, possession of not more than 20 grams of marijuana, and possession of narcotics equipment.

Highlands County Sheriff's investigators had been searching for Mato since the grow house raid and warrants were issued for his arrest, said Sheriff's Capt. Randy LaBelle on Wednesday.

"One of the (law enforcement) agencies down in Miami-Dade came in contact with him," said LaBelle.

However, he was not arrested.

"He came up here with his attorney and turned himself in at the jail," LaBelle said.

On Nov. 21, 2007, sheriff's investigators obtained a search warrant at a residence and barn at the Van Pelt Road address.

Once inside the barn, detectives reportedly found a dismantled marijuana grow house operation with 22 grow lights and hoods, irrigation materials, empty containers of hydroponic fertilizers, and a baby dried up marijuana plant, 48 five-gallon root balls with cut stalks and roots remaining, air conditioners, etc.

There was a small amount of dried processed marijuana hidden behind a rafter and a broom that had some suspect marijuana leaves on it, according to the report.

More materials were found inside a semi-trailer, the report stated.

Inside the house investigators reported they found a key that fit the lock on the barn, along with identification belonging to Mato, including his application for naturalization, his official Cuban documentation, a photo copy of Mato's Social Security card, his Florida driver's license and resident alien card.

Inside, deputies also found business records and business checks for Guajiro Bakery, Inc., at 1561 W. Okeechobee Road, in Hialeah, of which Mato was the president and CEO.

The license for the bakery was listed as inactive on Sept. 14, 2007, according to Department of State records.

The principal address and mailing address for that bakery was 2527 Van Pelt Road, in Sebring, state records indicated.

Agents for Progress Energy discovered a power diversion at a meter box located at the barn. Progress Energy officials calculated there had been a theft of $50,133.23. Service at that address had been activated on Dec. 19, 2005, the report stated.