Pa. man gets prison for hydroponic pot growing

WAYNESBURG, Pa. (AP) — A southwestern Pennsylvania man has been sentenced to up to 4 1/2 years in prison for a sophisticated hydroponic marijuana growing operation in his home.

The Observer Reporter of Washington, Pa., reports 32-year-old Kevin Christopher was sentenced Tuesday in Greene County, where he had previously pleaded guilty to manufacturing marijuana and other charges stemming from a raid of his Waynesburg home in November 2010.

Police say they searched Christopher’s home after trying repeatedly to serve him with a mental-health warrant and finding signs that he had recently been in the home.

When they got a search warrant to enter, police say the found 59 plants and other growing equipment. Police also found the electric meter in the house was bypassed so Christopher could avoid paying for electricity used to power growing lights and other equipment.