Monday, February 2, 2009

Bond Set For Men Charged In Estates Grow House Bust

Bond was set at $120,000 each for two men charged with operating an indoor marijuana grow house in Golden Gate Estates over the weekend.

Collier County Judge Rob Crown set bonds for Rafael Conde, 41, 181 22nd St. S.E., Golden Gate Estates, and Juan Carlos Hernandez, 29, 3383 Estey Ave., East Naples, at a court hearing Sunday, investigators said.

Conde and Hernandez were arrested Saturday after deputies executed a search warrant at a residence at 2760 Golden Gate Blvd. E.

Investigators discovered an indoor marijuana grow room in the residence. The grow room contained 39 marijuana plants and equipment to grow marijuana such as high intensity light bulbs, mylar and fertilizer, according to arrest reports.

The marijuana had an estimated street value of $117,000, reports said.

Investigators said Conde and Hernandez were in the process of constructing a second grow room when deputies executed the search warrant, reports said.

Conde and Hernandez were charged with cultivation of marijuana and possession of narcotic paraphernalia.


Juan Carlos Hernandez



Rafael Conde