Man admits he grew marijuana
Man admits he grew marijuanaBy Bob Gardinier Staff writer Times Union
Published 01:10 p.m., Monday, June 6, 2011
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NASSAU -- A village man admitted Monday he was growing marijuana in his home last year.
The plants were discovered after police responded to a report that Thomas D. Martell threatened two women he assumed were prostitutes, authorities said.
Martell appeared before Judge Robert Jacon and pleaded guilty to criminal possession of marijuana; he will be sentenced in August to time already served in county jail and five years' post release supervision. Jacon said Martell may be eligible for the Drug Court program.
''I had it growing in my basement and got caught with it, your honor,'' Martell told Jacon.
Nassau village police said they responded to Martell's Tremont Drive home March 27, 2010, after two women fled his house and claimed that he pulled a knife on them after they refused to have sex.
Police said they found 52 pot plants, two shotguns, an explosive and more than $10,000.
Martell originally was charged with felony criminal possession of marijuana, felony criminal possession of a weapon and menacing.
Police at the time said Martell contacted the two women through the Craigslist to provide him with a back massage, but when they arrived at the house he demanded sexual services.
Officers make "Leandra's Law" DWI Arrest
On August 7th 2010 at approximately 02:35 AM officers arrested 46 year old Thomas P. Butler of Pittsfield, Massachusetts on Church Street in the Village of Nassau for Aggravated DWI under the new “Leandra’s law”. Officers observed Mr. Butlers vehicle cross the double yellow line on Church Street. Upon stopping Mr. Butlers vehicle it was observed there were 4 juvenile passengers in the vehicle, two 16 year olds, a 14 year old and a 12 year old. Mr. Butler’s BAC was 0.11%. Mr. Butler was arrested on the following charges:VTL §1192-2AB – Aggravated DWI: With a Child as passenger less 16 years old – Class E Felony
VTL §1192-2 – DWI per se; .08% or more of alcohol in blood – Misdemeanor
VTL §1192-3 –DWI – Misdemeanor
VTL §511-1A – Aggravated Unlicensed Operation 3rd Degree – Misdemeanor
VTL §1120A – Fail to Keep Right – Traffic Infraction
Thomas P. Butler was arraigned in the Village of Nassau Court by the Honorable
Judge George Harris and remanded to Rensselaer County Jail in lieu of $15,000.
Thomas P. Butler
Marijuana growing operation uncovered
On March 27th 2010 at approximately 12:30 AM officers responded to 25 Tremont Drive in the Village of Nassau for a menacing complaint. Upon a joint investigationwith the Village of Nassau Police Department and the Town of Schodack Police Department Thomas D. Martell was found to be having a large scale marijuana growing operation located in the residence.
Thomas D. Martell of 25 Tremont Drive Village of Nassau was arrested by the Village of Nassau Police Department on the following charges:
PL §221.30 - Criminal Possession of Marijuana in the 1st Degree – Class C Felony
PL §265.02 Subdivision 2 - Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 3rd Degree – Class D Felony
PHL §3382 - Growing of the plant known as Cannabis by unlicensed persons – Class A misdemeanor
PL §120.14 - Menacing in the 2nd Degree – Class A Misdemeanor
PL §230.04 - Patronizing a Prostitute in the 3rd Degree – Class A Misdemeanor
(PL – Penal Law, PHL – Public Health Law)
Thomas D. Martell was arraigned in the Village of Nassau Court by the Honorable Judge Michael Conway and remanded to Rensselaer County Jail in lieu of $20,000.
Seized from 25 Tremont Drive are as follows:
Fifty Two (52) 3’ tall marijuana plants
2 Truck loads of equipment used to grow marijuana (Lights, Humidifiers, Power Inverters, Fertilizer, etc)
Over $10,000 US Currency
2 Vehicles
1 Explosive Device
2 Shotguns (1 Loaded)
Assorted Drug Paraphernalia
Pictures:
Thomas D Martell
Seized Items
Basement
Basement
