The current deplorable state of Clark County's real estate market has proven profitable for at least one industry: the illegal marijuana trade. The last few years have seen a large increase in the number of "grow houses," houses that are bought or rented at market-driven rock bottom prices for the sole purpose of being used as indoor marijuana farms. Because of the large amounts of illicit marijuana produced by these grow houses and the associated criminal activity connected with them, local police have recently become far more active in seeking out these houses and arresting the owners and renters responsible for their operations.
This current legal environment has created the possibility of excessive and vindictive penalties being sought against those arrested in connection with grow house activity. Now more than ever before, individuals who are facing trial for grow house charges need the help of locally experienced defense lawyers in order to make sure that their rights are not run over. Police officers and prosecutors determined to "make an example" of the grow house owners they get their hands on are often tempted to build up charges artificially; attempt to bring in unrelated evidence; and push judges to exercise penalties and sentencing out of proportion with the offense. These dangers must be countered by the skillful efforts of an attorney who has the passion, energy, and knowledge to protect his client's rights and privileges guaranteed under the U.S. and Nevada constitutions. Otherwise, a defendant may find himself serving time and paying fines for crimes that existed only in the over-imaginative minds of prosecutors.
Just recently, an article in the Las Vegas Sun (September 7, 2011) ran the story of a police raid on a local grow house that already had the front door apparently forced open. While the police confiscated 305 marijuana plants and growing equipment, they also made some speculative comments to the press about the possibility that many more plants and equipment had already been stolen by criminals when they arrived and that the neighborhood was endangered by the existence of the house. While these speculations may or may not be true, they are not legal grounds for conviction, and an individual charged with owning a grow house is not responsible for what related activity police and prosecutors think might be the case. Introduction of these types of extraneous ideas with no supporting evidence into a trial must be prevented, and a knowledgeable and committed defense attorney is the person to do it.
