Sheriff Jeff Hinson reports that Dodge County Sheriff’s deputies seized ninety one (91) marijuana plants last week and arrested two (2) individuals for growing marijuana. The sheriff’s office, the Oconee Drug Task Force, and the Governor’s Task Force for Drug Suppression conducted a joint aerial surveillance operation two weeks ago in Dodge County.
The operation was cut short due to the heavy rains and inclement weather. However, the operation was successful with the arrest of individuals and the seizure of a marijuana crop with an approximate street value of over $135,000.00.
The Governor’s Task Force helicopter located a patch of marijuana growing in an area off of El Bethel Church Road between Chauncey and Milan. Agents and deputies went to the location by foot and seized fifty one (51) marijuana plants. Law enforcement officers later served a search warrant on Thursday September 17th at a residence on the El Bethel Church Road in connection with the investigation.
The warrant was the culmination of an extensive joint investigation by the sheriff’s office and the Oconee Task Force. An indoor marijuana grow operation of an additional forty (40) plants was found inside the residence, along with marijuana that had already been harvested.
Additional marijuana was found concealed and drying in an adjacent barn on the property. Law enforcement officers confiscated the drugs, one vehicle, and $920 in U.S. currency, along with the components of the indoor grow operation. Deputies and agents arrested William Harold Lancaster (age 46) and Lea Oaks Lillard (age 41) and charged both with manufacturing marijuana.
Sheriff Hinson would like to remind the public that the sheriff’s office, along with the drug task force, is constantly pursuing drug offenders in the county. The problem affects each and every citizen, whether directly or indirectly, therefore, public participation is critical in combating the drug problem.
Anyone who has information that could assist in these efforts is encouraged to contact the sheriff’s office at (478) 374-8131 or the Oconee Drug Task Force at (478) 448-4685.
Sheriff’s investigators continue to make arrests in the several ongoing theft ring investigations. Elvin C. Hughes (age 51) of Eastman has been arrested and charged with theft by taking along with theft by deception in one investigation.
Eugene Joshua Huff (age 21) and Dylan Sinclair (age 21) both of Eastman have been arrested and charged with theft by taking and theft by deception in another investigation.
Edward Bryan (age 52) of Rhine has been charged with numerous counts of theft by taking and with burglary in connection with previously reported burglary on Bedsole Road. Thomas Ray Russell has also been charged with theft by taking.
