| Photo: Asheville Citizen-Times |
| Chris Maney, 46, was charged with possession and felony “manufacturing” of marijuana after officers claimed they found eight plants during a raid |
A tax administrator in Madison County, North Carolina was arrested after police raided his property and accused him of growing marijuana.
Chris Maney, 46, was charged with felony possession and manufacturing of marijuana after the raid by State Bureau of Investigation agents and the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, reports Melissa Dean at the Asheville Citizen-Times.
Law enforcement had gotten a tip that Maney was growing pot next to his home, according to Sheriff Buddy Harwood. Detectives claimed they seized about 5.5 pounds of marijuana.
Eight marijuana plants in separate buckets were found in a field near the home, according to State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) spokeswoman Noelle Talley, reports North Carolina News Network. Cannabis seeds and “drug paraphernalia, including a scale,” were found inside the home, according to the cops.
“He faces charges of maintaining a dwelling for the possession and manufacture of marijuana as well as felony possession of marijuana and felony manufacturing of marijuana,” Talley said.
| Graphic: ABC News 13 |
Maney was placed under a $15,000 unsecured bond.
Interestingly, Maney’s wife, Susan Maney, is the chief probation officer in Madison County. She was not charged.
Chris Maney had worked for the county for 23 years, since 1988. He was suspended with pay until further notice, according to County Manager Steve Garrison.
Garrison said Maney will remain on suspension until he is either acquitted or convicted.
“It is certainly unfortunate,” Garrison said. “He was a stand-up employee. There have been no previous incidents.”
So why are you even bothering this guy? He was doing his job. What’s the problem? Other than that stupid marijuana law, I mean.
Maney previously worked for the county’s Department of Social Services and served as director of community services from 2000 to 2008.
Although Madison County drug screens all new county employees, Maney had been with the county for more than two decades, so no drug screening was required for him to move into other positions.
“Unless an incident occurs that warrants (another drug screening), there is no process to screen existing employees transferring to another department,” Garrison said.
For WLOS ABC News 13 news video on the incident, click here.