Marijuana Eradication Season Well Under Way

   On June 29, 2010, with the growing season for marijuana in full swing, agents with the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, and Lenoir Police Department teamed up with the North Carolina Air National Guard in a marijuana eradication operation.  The agents, paired with two Air National Guard Military Helicopters, scoured Caldwell County in search of illegal marijuana plants. 

As a result of their efforts, Kenneth Edwin Bowman Jr, age 51, of 4868 Hurricane Hill Road in Granite Falls and Christopher Wayne Harbeson, age 30, of 2525 Michael Court in Hudson were caught growing marijuana on their property and charged by Sheriff’s Office Ice unit agents.  A 2000 Chevrolet Silverado truck was also seized in the process from Bowman. 

So far this year, Ice agents report they have seized a total of 103 marijuana plants with a street value of $257,500.  Two other individuals have also been caught and charged this year by Sheriff’s Office Ice agents with growing marijuana on their property. 

On June 24, 2010, William Henry Townsend, age 50, of 2195 Quail Ridge Court was charged with felony manufacture marijuana, maintain a dwelling to keep/store a controlled substance, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and resist, obstruct, delay a public officer, when agents acting on a tip visited his residence.  After giving them consent to search the premise, he ran out the back door of his residence and started pulling marijuana plants from his garden in an effort to dispose of them.  The agents were able to recover all the plants and arrested him without further incident.   

On June 28, 2010, Russell Lynn Bowen, age 36, of 2021 Treetop Lane in Lenoir was also arrested and charged with felony manufacture marijuana and maintain a dwelling to keep/store a controlled substance when he was caught growing marijuana around his mobile home and in his yard.

“Every year we make an effort to catch marijuana growers.  It can be a lucrative business, but also very costly when caught”. – Sheriff Alan C. Jones

The following persons have been arrested and charged with the listed crimes so far this year:

William Henry Townsend, W/M, age 50
2195 Quail ridge Court
Lenoir, NC

 Townsend was arrested on June 24, 2010 for:

• One (1) Count – Felonious Manufacture Marijuana.

• One (1) Count – Felonious Maintain a Dwelling to Keep/Store a Controlled Substance.

• One (1) Count – Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

• One (1) Count – Misdemeanor Resist, Delay, Obstruct a Public Officer.

Russell Lynn Bowen, W/M, age 36
2021 Treetop Lane
Lenoir, NC

 Bowen was arrested on June 28, 2010 for:

• One (1) Count – Felonious Manufacture Marijuana.

• One (1) Count – Felonious Maintain a Dwelling to Keep/Store a Controlled Substance.

Kenneth Edwin Bowman Jr, W/M, age 51
4868 Hurricane Hill Road
Granite Falls, NC

 Bowman was arrested on June 29, 2010 for:

• One (1) Count – Felonious Manufacture Marijuana.

• One (1) Count – Felonious Maintain a Dwelling to Keep/Store a Controlled Substance.

• One (1) Count – Misdemeanor Possession of Marijuana.

• One (1) Count – Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Christopher Wayne Harbeson, W/M, age 30
2525 Michael Court
Hudson, NC

 Harbeson was arrested on June 29, 2010 for:

• One (1) Count – Felonious Manufacture Marijuana.

 The Caldwell County Sheriff's Office is always in search of any information involving the use and distribution of illegal controlled substances.  A concerned citizen’s information and assistance will be kept confidential.   If you have any information concerning illegal drug activity in Caldwell County, please contact the:  

Caldwell County Sheriff's Office I.C.E. Unit at 828-757-1178.

Lenoir Police Department’s Narcotics Division at 828-757-2145.