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Couple Charged with Growing Pot

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By KEITH MORELLI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 21, 2007

TAMPA - A random traffic stop on Friday night culminated with the arrests of the driver and a woman charged with operating a marijuana-growing house.

Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies stopped a vehicle driven by Jason Hernandez, 27, 27621 Kirkwood Court, Wesley Chapel, a little after 10 p.m. on Friday near Bearss Avenue and Haven Road. Deputies said they detected the odor of marijuana.

A search of the car found some drug paraphernalia and a Glock 9 mm handgun, deputies said. Hernandez was charged with possession of paraphernalia and being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun. He was later charged with possessing a controlled substance, deputies said.

The stop prompted deputies to obtain a search warrant for a home at 16576 Silverhill Drive in Tampa, where they found several marijuana plants in pots along with a lighting and watering system, they said.

Lynn Marine Lipham, 21, who lives in the home, was charged with cultivating marijuana, possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana, maintaining a drug house and possession of paraphernalia. She was released after posting $5,000 bail, records show.

Hernandez additionally was charged with the same offenses as Lipham and possession of a police scanner in his vehicle. He was released after posting $20,500 bail.

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