Late this afternoon a Charlevoix County jury found Daniel Joseph Guy, 51, of Boyne Falls guilty of the manufacture of marijuana, a felony carrying a maximum penalty of four years in prison.

Charlevoix County Prosecuting Attorney Allen Telgenhof tried the case, held in the 33rd Circuit Court for the prosecution.

“I want to thank the jurors for their service, it was a long day and they had to process a lot of information,” Telgenhof said.  “Also the testimony of the police officers involved – Sergeant Jerry King of the Michigan State Police, Undersheriff Chuck Vondra, Detective/Sergeant Todd Reeves, Deputies Ben Speigl and William Church, were critical.”

Officers testified that they were conducting Operation HEMP (Helping Eliminate Marijuana Planting) in Charlevoix County last September when Sgt. King spotted marijuana plants from his helicopter above Guy’s property.

The Joint Operational Law Enforcement Team (JOLT) officers from the Sheriff’s Department and East Jordan City Police arrived at the Guy property and searched the property, discovering and seizing 48 marijuana plants.

“Despite the approval of medical marijuana and proposals to legalize marijuana, it is important that individuals follow the laws in place,” Telgenhof explained.  “I really appreciate that the jury agreed that the marijuana laws still need to be followed and there needs to be a consequence for those who choose not to.”

Guy will be sentenced by Judge Roy C. Hayes III on December 18.