IL. - A former Palatine man accused of growing hundreds of marijuana plants in a rented McHenry house avoided a possible prison stay Tuesday under a plea deal that will require him to testify against a longtime family friend.
Raymond T. Holland, 52, admitted guilt to felony charges of unlawful production of cannabis plants and conspiracy stemming from allegations he tended to as many as 1,500 plants valued, police said, at about $1.5 million.
Under the deal, Holland was placed on two years probation and ordered to pay more than $4,000 in fines and court costs. He also was sentenced to 90 days in the McHenry County jail, but already served that time and on Tuesday walked out of the jail a free man. Had he been convicted of the charges at trial, Holland could have faced a maximum 15 years in prison.
Holland, who had recent addresses in Palatine and Bloomingdale Township, but now is expected to live with family in East Dundee, also agreed to testify against co-defendant Philip Koeckritz, a Palatine man who previously identified himself in court as a longtime friend.
In preparation for that testimony, Holland answered questions in court Tuesday from Assistant McHenry County State's Attorney Kirk Chrzanowski outlining his involvement in what police called the largest indoor marijuana-growing operation in McHenry County history.
Holland said that between May 2008 and January 2009, Koeckritz paid him about $50,000 to care for plants growing in a house in the 6700 block of Homestead Drive in McHenry. He also described how those involved in the operation used codenames for one another as was done in the Quentin Tarantino film, "Reservoir Dogs." Koeckritz, he said, was "Mr. White." He was "Mr. Purple."
Koeckritz, 35, of the 200 block of Bothwell Street, remains free on $10,000 bond while awaiting trial on charges that include unlawful production of cannabis, conspiracy and criminal damage to property. Just last week a judge rejected prosecutors' calls to throw Koeckritz back in jail, ruling there is no evidence to back claims he used drug money to post bond.
Their Oct. 29 arrests followed a McHenry County Sheriff's investigation launched with the discovery of nearly 1,500 cannabis plants growing in the rented McHenry house. The discovery later led authorities to two more homes - one in Woodstock, the other in Johnsburg - where police say they found evidence that millions of dollars in marijuana had been cultivated.
News Hawk- Weedpipe 420 Magazine - Cannabis Culture News & Reviews
Source: Herald Staff
Author: By Charles Keeshan
Contact: Daily Herald Home Page
Copyright: 2010 Paddock Publications, Inc.
Website:Daily Herald | Accused McHenry pot grower takes plea, agrees to turn on friend
Raymond T. Holland, 52, admitted guilt to felony charges of unlawful production of cannabis plants and conspiracy stemming from allegations he tended to as many as 1,500 plants valued, police said, at about $1.5 million.
Under the deal, Holland was placed on two years probation and ordered to pay more than $4,000 in fines and court costs. He also was sentenced to 90 days in the McHenry County jail, but already served that time and on Tuesday walked out of the jail a free man. Had he been convicted of the charges at trial, Holland could have faced a maximum 15 years in prison.
Holland, who had recent addresses in Palatine and Bloomingdale Township, but now is expected to live with family in East Dundee, also agreed to testify against co-defendant Philip Koeckritz, a Palatine man who previously identified himself in court as a longtime friend.
In preparation for that testimony, Holland answered questions in court Tuesday from Assistant McHenry County State's Attorney Kirk Chrzanowski outlining his involvement in what police called the largest indoor marijuana-growing operation in McHenry County history.
Holland said that between May 2008 and January 2009, Koeckritz paid him about $50,000 to care for plants growing in a house in the 6700 block of Homestead Drive in McHenry. He also described how those involved in the operation used codenames for one another as was done in the Quentin Tarantino film, "Reservoir Dogs." Koeckritz, he said, was "Mr. White." He was "Mr. Purple."
Koeckritz, 35, of the 200 block of Bothwell Street, remains free on $10,000 bond while awaiting trial on charges that include unlawful production of cannabis, conspiracy and criminal damage to property. Just last week a judge rejected prosecutors' calls to throw Koeckritz back in jail, ruling there is no evidence to back claims he used drug money to post bond.
Their Oct. 29 arrests followed a McHenry County Sheriff's investigation launched with the discovery of nearly 1,500 cannabis plants growing in the rented McHenry house. The discovery later led authorities to two more homes - one in Woodstock, the other in Johnsburg - where police say they found evidence that millions of dollars in marijuana had been cultivated.
News Hawk- Weedpipe 420 Magazine - Cannabis Culture News & Reviews
Source: Herald Staff
Author: By Charles Keeshan
Contact: Daily Herald Home Page
Copyright: 2010 Paddock Publications, Inc.
Website:Daily Herald | Accused McHenry pot grower takes plea, agrees to turn on friend
