Couple arrested for 27 pot plants

A Cannon County couple was arrested on marijuana related charges following the discovery of 27 plants in a closet at their home on Houston Parker Road.

Donny J. Leath and Misty Dawn Leath were charged with manufacture of marijuana, maintaining a dwelling and possession of drug paraphernalia. Both were released on bond.

Sgt. Steve McMillen had responded to a call at the Leaths' home for a report of a domestic dispute in progress. When deputies entered the residence they smelled a strong odor consistent with marijuana coming from a back bedroom.

"I then asked Donny what was inside the room, which he stated there was nothing in it, which then I advised him that I could smell marijuana coming from the room," McMillen reported.

Leath then told the officers that they would need a search warrant or permission from his father to search the room.

Leath's father was then contacted by Sgt. McMillen who informed him of the situation. Permission was granted and a form was signed by Leath's father.

Leath told McMillen that he had a "marijuana plant in the room I was using for an experiment.

"He then went into the room, opened the closet door and handed me one marijuana plant that was in a pot with potting soil. While Donny was getting the plant, I was standing behind him. I then observed many more marijuana plants inside the closet along with potting soil, grow lamps, fans and more empty pots," the sergeant reported.

McMillen told Leath to go outside and sit down while he called Sheriff Darrell Young and Investigator Anthony Young.

After getting permission, Investigator Young searched the home and confiscated the 27 plants and other evidence including rolling papers, digital scales and a plastic bag containing marijuana seeds.

At the Cannon County Jail, Young advised Leath of his Miranda Rights and conducted an interview with him.

Leath told Young that he did not sell any of the marijuana he had grown and that the scale discovered by the sheriff's department was not used to weigh the marijuana, but instead was used to measure the root tone he used to grow the marijuana.