(Smith County Insider Press) CARTHAGE, Tenn. — Three people were arrested in Carthage after a marijuana grow operation was discovered Wednesday, April 19.
Sgt. Junior Fields and Sgt. Dusty Hailey of the Smith County Sheriff’s Department went to a College Avenue residence to serve a warrant after receiving information that 23-year-old Rachel Westmoreland was there.
Upon entering the residence, Eric Lawrence (25, Alexandria) was on the couch asleep. Westmoreland was found in the bedroom, at which time an odor of marijuana was noticed, and Westmoreland admitted that she had some marijuana, according to the arrest warrant.
The marijuana was located in a Mason jar and measured more than .5 oz.
Lawrence was also found to be in possession of two small bags of marijuana that were inside a Mason jar and weighed more than .5 oz, along with a set of digital scales, according to the arrest warrant.
Upon exiting the back door onto the porch, Fields observed two large hydroponic grow lights.
Fields spoke to Randle Holmes (49, Carthage), who resides in the back of the property. According to the arrest warrant, Holmes stated he would show Fields what he had.
Fields followed Holmes into his residence, at which time Fields was shown a cabinet containing two small bags of marijuana and some marijuana “blooms.”
Holmes then showed Fields to his bathroom, where he had a marijuana grow operation, according to the arrest warrant.
According to the arrest warrant, Holmes had a 5 gallon bucket with dirt containing what he identified as 12 marijuana plants. He also had two other cups with one marijuana plant in each for a total of 14 plants.
Holmes was also found to be in possession of three handguns that he possessed during the manufacture of said marijuana, according to the arrest warrant.
Westmoreland, Lawrence and Holmes were placed under arrest and transported to the Smith County Jail Facility for booking.
Westmoreland is charged with violation of probation and possession of schedule VI.
Lawrence is charged with felony possession of drug paraphernalia and manufacture/delivery/sell of a controlled substance.
Holmes is charged with manufacture/delivery/sell of a controlled substance, possession of a firearm during commission felony and felony possession of drug paraphernalia.
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Randle Dewayne Holmes
Rachel Ann Westmoreland
Eric Christopher Lawrence
