WAFB Channel 9, Baton Rouge, LA |Authorities find "pro" marijuana growing operation

Authorities find "pro" marijuana growing operation

By Keitha Nelson - bio | email

WALKER, LA (WAFB) - The Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office and Louisiana State Police teamed up to bust a Walker man with nearly $45,000 worth of weed inside his home.

According to deputies, Robert Owens, 28, had rows of marijuana trees spread out in the front bedroom of his house and they added it was not an amateur operation.

Jason Ard with the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office said as soon as detectives walked into Owens' home, the stench of weed hit them. Ard said Owens, who is an electrician, had the place hooked up like a pro.

"This one here had automatic water feeders and automatic lights on it," Ard said. "He had the set up. He was ready to go."

Neighbors say the plants hauled out of Owens' home looked like Christmas trees. People describe the Woodland Crossing Subdivision in Walker where Owens lives, as fairly quiet. One neighbor says her jaw dropped when she saw the raid Tuesday evening.

Detectives said Owens nervously stood aside and watched as agents ruined his operation. Besides the huge marijuana plants found in his home, deputies said they also found a loaded 9 mm pistol and a marijuana pipe. Ard said Owens confessed to growing the weed in his home.

"This guy has no respect for his neighbors or anybody," said Ard. "When you have drugs it becomes dangerous. And he's got guns in there. So you don't know what kind of people he's inviting into that neighborhood," said Ard.

Livingston deputies say Owens is a convicted felon. Because of that he could face anywhere from five to ten years for having a gun, plus an additional five years for that elaborate marijuana growing operation.

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