Officers find 31 marijuana plants in Havre home

A Havre man has been accused of growing 31 marijuana plants in the basement of a River Road house.

Richard W. Mysse, 34, was released on his own recognizance from the Hill County Detention Center Monday afternoon during a hearing with Justice of the Peace Terry Stoppa. Mysse is charged with criminal production or manufacture of dangerous drugs and use or possession of property subject to criminal forfeiture in connection with the alleged grow operation.

He is also charged with felony theft by obtaining control over stolen property. A criminal complaint filed in court alleges he had a stolen farm implement drive shaft valued at $2,200.

If convicted of the charges, Mysse could be sentenced to a maximum of life in prison, as well as forfeit two houses police say were modified to include growing rooms in their basements.

Agents with Tri-Agency Task Force obtained search warrants for a house on River Road in Hill County and in the 1300 block of Fourth Street in Havre after interviewing a man with whom Mysse had had a business relationship.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Hill County Justice Court, the man had called the Hill County Sheriff's Office July 3 to report that he and Mysse had an argument over some property and that a physical altercation had ensued. He told deputies he could lead them to a "drug bust," the document said.

The man told deputies he had seen about 30 marijuana plants in the basement of a house on River Road, and that he knew Mysse also grew plants in the basement of another residence in Havre, according to the charging document.

Deputies contacted the Tri-Agency Task Force. On July 4, task force agents served a search warrant at the property on River Road. According to the criminal complaint, officers found a marijuana grow room in the northeast corner of the basement.

"A total of 31 live marijuana plants were seized," the complaint said. "The plants were surrounded with white styrofoam sheeting. Within the grow area were several large lights used for artificial sunlight, electric power converters, electric timers, fertilizer, pruning sheers, rubber gloves, 5-gallon buckets, an electric fan, and small starter flower pots and potting soil. The lights were on at the time of entry, the plants were live and growing, and included large buds."

Police seized the rubber gloves as well as some cigarette butts found at the scene for DNA analysis. A generator, air compressor, chipper/shredder, and a drive shaft were also seized. The drive shaft matched the description of one that had been stolen from the Tilleman Motor Co., the complaint said.

A second search warrant was served at Mysse's residence in the 1300 block of Fourth Street in Havre. In the basement of the house police found fertilizer, fluorescent lights, spray bottles, starter pots, and marijuana residue, according to the criminal complaint.

A warrant was issued for Mysse's arrest. He was taken into custody on Friday evening.

Task Force agent Jerry Nystrom estimated the street value of the seized marijuana to be $8,600.