Dope grower agrees to deal
Toolbox
By Alan J. Keays Herald Staff - Published: June 6, 2007
A Fair Haven man arrested last summer for growing marijuana who told authorities he had used Miracle-Gro to help cultivate his plants has reached a plea deal.
Mitchell L. Matteson, 31, pleaded guilty Tuesday in Rutland District Court to a felony charge of marijuana cultivation. He received a deferred sentence and was placed on probation for 18 months. He was also ordered to perform 40 hours of community service and take part in substance abuse counseling.
If Matteson successfully completes the terms of his probation, the charge will be cleared from his record.
Should Matteson violate his probation, he could be sentenced again on the charge and face the maximum penalty for the offense of three years in jail.
"He's got a lot to lose and something to gain," Deputy State's Attorney Marc Brierre said Tuesday in court. "He's paying back the community through his community service and he's getting a rehabilitative sentence as well."
Brierre said he agreed to the deferred sentence, in part, because Matteson had no prior drug convictions and was cooperative with police.
"He clearly was doing it, I would submit, for himself," the prosecutor added. "The amount would indicate it was for personal use."
Fair Haven Police said, in late July 2006, they had "received information" that Matteson had been growing marijuana on a property on Scotch Hill Extension, where he had been living.
Police said they searched the property after receiving consent from the homeowner and found five marijuana plants growing in buckets in a wooded area near the home.
Police said when they questioned Matteson about the plants, he admitted to planting, feeding and watering the marijuana.
"He admitted it, telling us he had been giving them Miracle-Gro," Fair Haven Police Chief William Humphries said at the time the plants were seized.
Mary Kay Lanthier, Matteson's public defender, said Tuesday in court that her client was growing the plants for his own use. She said it was Matteson's first attempt at growing marijuana.
"He wasn't particularly good at it," Lanthier said.
Contact Alan J. Keays at alan.keays@rutlandherald.com.
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