Thirteen lbs. of pot seized in indoor growing operation near St. Charles

A 44-year-old man is accused of operating a large-scale, indoor pot growing operation involving more than 450 plants at a St. Charles Township home, according to authorities and court records.

David M. Robbins, of the 38W500 block of Mallard Lake Road, was arrested Wednesday after the Kane County Sheriff's office seized more than more than 13 pounds packaged for sale, along with 463 live marijuana plants in various stages of growth, the sheriff's' office said.

Undersheriff Pat Gengler described the plants were found in the garage, basement and first floor,

The estimated value of the marijuana seized was $500,000, he said.

Gengler said Robbins also had an active order of protection against him that required him to turn over all his firearms, so authorities also seized two handguns and a rifle.

Robbins is being held on $150,000 bail, meaning he must post $15,000 to be released from the Kane County jail while the charges are pending.

He also must prove the $15,000 comes from legitimate sources if he is to post bond, according to court records.

He is next due in court on Wednesday and faces between up 30 years in prison of convicted of the most severe charge of manufacture/delivery of more than 5,000 grams of cannabis, records show.

Robbins does not have any previous felony drug arrests, but was charged with misdemeanor domestic battery and interfering with the reporting of domestic battery in September 2005 by the Kane County Sheriff's office. He was found not guilty of both charges in March 2006, records show.

He also was arrested by Kane County sheriff's deputies in October 2005 on charges of assault and violation of an order of protection, but was found not guilty of both those charges in May 2006, records show.

In May 2008, Robbins was charged with possession of a firearm without a valid Firearm Owners Identification card, a misdemeanor. He pleaded guilty, was fined $300 and completed court supervision.