More Than 100 Pot Plants Found In Manorville Marijuana 'Forest:' Sheriff

MANORVILLE, NY — A Manorville man was caught with more than 100 marijuana plants in a subterranean grow house on his property, police said.

According to the Suffolk County Chief Deputy Sheriff Michael Sharkey, the discovery of the marijuana "forest" off Old School House Road came after a months-long investigation that culminated last week with the confiscation of more than 100 marijuana plants, in addition to previously harvested marijuana in various stages of the drying process prior to packing for sale, totaling more than 30 pounds.

A search warrant issued on Sept. 19 resulted in seizure of the drugs and the arrest of Donald Guichard he was charged with multiple felonies, including first degree sale of marijuana and criminal possession of a weapon, Sharkey said.

The entire operation was concealed on a wooded lot in Manorville where the marijuana was grown in a subterranean grow house which was covered by a utility storage building, Sharkey said.

Surveillance was conducted by the sheriff’s office with assistance from Northport Village Police Department, Sharkey said.

Initially, informant based leads were supplied to sheriff’s office investigators, which were subsequently corroborated by a detective from Northport Village Police Department, authorities said.

According to a Newsday report, Guichard lived underground in the subterranean pot operation, with a "lift" on cables that descended by lifting a piece of the floor, Sharkey said; he added in the report that the street value of the marijuana would be more than $100,000.

Guichard is currently being held at the Suffolk County Correctional Facility in lieu of $50,000 cash bail or $100,000 bond pending the disposition of the case, the release said.

Photos courtesy Suffolk County Sheriff's Department.