Man Admits Growing Pot Near County Line, Pleads Guilty In Two Counties

Jacob Redmond

Well-Known Member
A man was placed on probation in two counties after he admitted that he grew marijuana in the field that overlapped both counties.

Alan L. Ingle pleaded guilty to charges in Coles and Cumberland counties in connection with the 45 marijuana plants a Coles County sheriff's deputy found on Sept. 17.

Ingle, 62, for whom court records list a rural Lerna address but in Cumberland County, was accused of growing the marijuana in a field near his residence about three miles south of Lerna.

In Coles County, he pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful possession of cannabis plants, a felony offense. A more serious cannabis possession charge was dismissed and he was placed on probation for two years.

His Cumberland County conviction was similar to the one he received in Coles County. Ingle was also sentenced to two years of probation in Cumberland County but prosecutors agreed to allow the sentence from the two counties run at the same time.

The terms of Ingle's sentence included about two months of jail time in each county. However, his plea agreements also allowed him to serve both terms at the same time and he'll spend the jail time in Coles County.

Prosecutors in both counties also agreed to not file additional charges. Trespassing charges were possible because Ingle lived near but didn't own the field in which the marijuana was grown, according to Assistant State's Attorney Bryant Hitchings, who prosecuted the Coles County case.

The charges to which Ingle pleaded guilty could have resulted in a prison sentence of two to five years with a conviction.

The dismissed Coles County cannabis possession charge could have brought a four- to 15-year prison term because of the total weight of the marijuana, though prison time wouldn't have been required.

That charge charge alleged the total weight was more than 11 pounds, though Hitchings said that included stalks and other materials in addition to the leafy portion common for drug use.

Hitchings said the cannabis possession charge was also based on the plants that were found, not on any additional marijuana, though there were reports of some harvested marijuana in Ingle's home.

Ingle's Coles County sentence also included payment of about $1,400 in fines and court fees, and there was evidence that Ingle has already completed substance abuse treatment. His Cumberland County probation terms included about $1,500 in fines and fees.

In Coles County, Circuit Judge Teresa Righter sentenced Ingle based on the terms of the plea agreement that Hitchings and defense attorney Jay Ferguson in recommended.

In Cumberland County, Circuit Judge Millard Everhart accepted a plea agreement that State's Attorney Jonathan Braden and Ferguson recommended.

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News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Man admits growing pot near county line, pleads guilty in two counties
Author: Dave Fopay
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