Marijuana grower gets 15-month prison term

A Scottsville man convicted of growing marijuana was sentenced Monday to 15 months in federal prison.

But Michael Lewis Easton, who was arrested after police found a grow operation in a garage on his property in January 2007, lost more than his freedom.

The 49-year-old forfeited his house as part of his punishment, and likely lost his business as a home renovation contractor, said his lawyer, David Heilberg.

U.S. Attorney Julia C. Dudley said in a release that “this case should serve as a warning, if you plan to manufacture illegal narcotics.”

Easton and his live-in girlfriend Debra Allyn Morris, 46, pleaded guilty in August to one count each of conspiracy to manufacture 50 or more marijuana plants.

She was sentenced to 12 months and one day.

Easton had faced a firearms charge that carried a mandatory five-year sentence but it was dropped in his plea deal. The guns were used for hunting, Heilberg said.

In Charlottesville federal court Monday morning, Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Huber said Easton had “a fairly sophisticated grow operation.”

Investigators with the Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement task force and the Drug Enforcement Administration found video equipment, grow lights and a digital thermometer among other items used to cultivate marijuana. They also found between 20 and 30 plants. Easton told investigators that he had previously grown another 20 to 30 plants.

Heilberg said after sentencing Monday that he believed “there was some self-medicating aspect” with Easton, who admitted to investigators that he used the marijuana. He also told them that he sold the pot to and shared it with friends.

In court, Heilberg asked Judge Norman K. Moon to consider a lesser sentence than what federal guidelines stipulated.

His client, a heavy-set man, suffers from painful hip problems and has undergone surgeries on both sides, Heilberg told the judge. He also asked the judge to take into account that Easton has a very ill mother.

Heilberg added that Easton “was not a big-time drug dealer” and that this was his first federal conviction. Easton was convicted of misdemeanor assault and battery 10 years ago.

Judge Moon did not see merit in the arguments and sentenced Easton to the full 15 months.

Heilberg said his client was frustrated but also relieved to avoid the five-year firearm sentence.