Five Sabattus residents are facing marijuana cultivation charges after police seized a truck full of marijuana plants from their home Thursday morning.

After receiving tips from residents, police searched the property at 69 Lisbon Road Thursday morning. During the search, police seized more than 80 large marijuana plants, 50 cloned marijuana plants, marijuana processing equipment, paraphernalia and dried marijuana.

Police issued criminal summonses for cultivating marijuana to Darin Sargent, 18; Brandon Sargent, 20; Ronald Parady, 35; Thomas Blancato, 51; and Melissa Chase, 50. All live at 69 Lisbon Road, according to police. They are excepted to appear in Androscoggin County Unified Court on Nov. 16.

The cultivating marijuana charge is a Class D misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in county jail.

Police Chief Gary Baillargeon said none of the people charged are medical marijuana caregivers who are licensed by the state to grow medical marijuana. One of the people charged is a medical marijuana patient, but was out of compliance with the requirements of the program, he said.

Baillargeon said the investigation is ongoing and he expects additional charges to be filed after a review by the Androscoggin County District Attorney’s Office.

“The investigation and charges demonstrate the commitment of the Sabattus Police Department in eradicating illegal drugs from our community,” he said. “The assistance from community members proved invaluable in this investigation and greatly assisted in the removal of these illegal drugs from the town of Sabattus.”


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