Pot Plants in Park Get Man Probation, Report Says

A 44-year-old Bridgewater Township man who earlier pleaded guilty to charges of growing marijuana plants at his home in Martinsville and at nearby Mountain Park in Basking Ridge was sentenced to three years of probation on Friday, NJ.com reports.

Michael Maslo had been found to be growing than 30 marijuana plants—with an estimated street value of $90,000—

The report on NJ.com quoted Maslo's attorney, Scott Mitzner, with saying that Maslo had been growing the marijuana to treat an unspecified medical condition. Maslo was sentenced in state Superior Court before Judge Paul Armstrong in Somerville, NJ.com said.

Maslo had been charged initially with second-degree manufacturing marijuana, second-degree possession of marijuana with intent to distribute in a park zone, third-degree possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia, the prosecutor's office said last July.

According to a statement released at the time of his arrest, Bernards Township Police detectives set up surveillance in the area of Mountain Park. The detectives observed Maslo exit his Long Road residence and was seen tending to marijuana plants growing in the park, the prosecutor's office said.

Approximately 200 grams of marijuana, three marijuana plants, drug paraphernalia and $1,225 in cash was seized from the home, the prosecutor's office said. Five additional plants were seized from Maslo's backyard, the prosecutor's office said. An additional 25 marijuana plants were found in the area of Mountain Park where Maslo had been observed, the prosecutor's office said in a release in July.