Fairmont man charged after firefighters identify large amount of marijuana plants while re…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. – A Fairmont man has been charged after deputies said they found nearly 700 marijuana plants and more than 300 grams of packaged marijuana when they were called to the scene of a brush fire where firefighters identified a growing site.

According to a criminal complaint filed by the Marion County Sheriff’s Department, on October 23, 2020, around 5:37 p.m., dispatch was advised of a brush fire on White Day Creek Road in Fairmont, and firefighters had located a large amount of marijuana plants.

When deputies arrived on scene they observed a small shack with an open basement and a two-stall shelter attached which had smoke rising from its chimney, according to the complaint. Deputies said that the residence was near where the firemen were working on the brush fire, approximately 30-40 yards from where the fire was.

Deputies said they located the marijuana plants about 100 yards up the hill from the residence and there was an “obvious clear-cut path easily accessible for a vehicle all the way to where the grow site is” right behind the residence.

After knocking on the door of the residence and receiving no answer, deputies said they spoke with the neighbor who originally called 911. The neighbor told deputies that the property was owned by “someone with the last name of Harrs,” but they rented the property out to…