Ocean County Pair Charged With Marijuana Manufacture: Prosecutor

TOMS RIVER, NJ — An Ocean County couple is facing drug manufacturing charges after authorities seized 38 marijuana plants, more than 5 pounds of marijuana, and THC wax during raids of homes in Ocean and Gloucester counties, authorities said Monday.

Jason Andrew Bacon, 35, of Brick, and Kim Christopher, 41, of Toms River, were arrested following the execution of search warrants at the homes in Brick and in Clayton, Gloucester County, after a four-month investigation, according to the announcemnt by Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato, Gloucester County Prosecutor Charles A. Fiore, Brick Township Police Chief James Riccio, and Clayton Borough Police Chief Andrew Davis.

The search warrants were executed at Bacon's home on Laurel Brook Drive in Brick and at a home on North Delsea Drive in Clayton, said Al Della Fave. The Clayton home was where the marijuana was being grown and processed, in a greenhouse just outside the house where detectives seized the plants, the previously cultivated marijuana, THC wax, U.S. currency, and a loaded .25 caliber Beretta handgun, Della Fave said.

THC wax is a substance created from the oil of the marijuana plant. It is typically put into things such as cigarillo filters or vapes to be smoked.

Della Fave said Bacon and Christopher are charged with the following:

• Maintaining a CDS Manufacturing Facility (1st degree)
• Possession of CDS with Intent to Distribute (2nd degree)
• Possession of Over 50 grams of Marijuana (4th degree)
• Possession of CDS (cocaine) (3rd degree)
• Possession of CDS paraphernalia (DP)
• Possession of a Firearm during a CDS offense (2nd degree)
• Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (2nd degree)
• Possession of a Weapon for Unlawful Purpose (2nd degree)

As a result of the Clayton search warrant, Bacon additionally is charged with the following, Della Fave said:

• Maintaining a CDS Manufacturing Facility (1st degree)
• Possession of CDS with Intent to Distribute (1st degree) (Marijuana plants)
• Possession of CDS with Intent to Distribute (1st degree) (Cultivated marijuana)
• Possession of Over 50 grams of Marijuana (4th degree)
• Maintaining a Fortified Structure (boards across entrances) during a CDS offense (3rd degree)

Authorities are seeking forfeiture of a 2013 BMW i125 (approximate value $20,500), a 1999 Ford F-250 ($10,000), and the North Delsea Drive residence, Della Fave said.

Bacon is being held at the Ocean County Jail. Christopher was released to await her court date, Della Fave said.

The co-op investigation was conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Special Operations Group, the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Guns, Gangs and Narcotics Task Force, the Brick Township Police Department Drug Enforcement Unit and Clayton Borough Police Department additionally involved the assistance of the following agencies: US Department of the Treasury, US Postal Service, New Jersey State Police, Pitman and Westville Police Departments, Della Fave said.

Photo of Jason A. Bacon via Ocean County Corrections Department