Walter Paul Bell was charged with first-degree possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia after the 2^nd Judicial Drug Task Force discovered marijuana growing on his porch.

Butler County Sheriff Kenny Harden said that a Tuesday-morning investigation led them to the residence located just west of Georgiana from Highway 106.

“We went by there and we could actually see it from his porch in pots,” Harden said.

“So we obtained a search warrant, went back to search his residence and got the marijuana plants off the porch and from inside the house.

Harden said that it was possible to attribute the brazen display to the secluded nature of Bell’s home, as well as his unfamiliarity with state laws.

“He stated that he was from California, and that he didn’t know it was against the law here,” Harden said.

“He lived back off on a road in a secluded area, where there’s no traffic.  But he wasn’t trying to hide it.  He was just putting them out there for the sun.”

Harden added that seven pots of marijuana were seized in all, with the collection of plants being valued at approximately $3,000.

Bell was charged and transported to the Butler County Correctional Facility.