Three Dozen Pot Plants Seized at Romeoville Home

A Romeoville man arrested Monday has been running a marijuana-growing operation out of his house, police said.

Derek Leinweber, 33, in the 40th block of Paladino Dr., was charged with the manufacture and delivery of cannabis and production of cannabis plants, according to Will County State's Attorney spokesman Chuck Pelkie.

Romeoville Assistant Police Chief Steve Lucchesi said officers seized 36 growing marijuana plants ranging from 1 to 3 feet in height while executing a search warrant at the house at 4:15 p.m., Dec. 13.

"It's a fairly significant growth operation he had going on here," Lucchesi said, adding police recovered 8,746 grams of marijuana along with marijuana-growing paraphernalia.

Leinweber was booked by Romeoville police and taken to the Will County Adult Detention Center.

Pelkie said manufacture and delivery of more than 5,000 grams of cannabis, a Class X felony, carries a mandatory sentence of six to 30 years in prison without the possibility of parole if he is convicted.

A second charge of producing 20 to 50 cannabis plants is a Class 3 felony punishable by up to five years in prison if convicted.

Leinweber's bond was set at $100,000, Pelkie said. He is due in court Jan. 4, 2011.