McHenry County man gets three years in prison for growing pot

A 41-year-old Pistakee Highlands man was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty Wednesday to allegations he was growing 112 marijuana plants in a home he was renting.

Michael T. Brennan, of the 700 block of Pheasant Trail, also must pay more than $5,500 in fines and court fees as part of a negotiated plea in which he admitted to a felony charge of unlawful production of marijuana plants.

As part of the deal, McHenry County prosecutors dismissed charges of unlawful possession of cannabis, unlawful possession with the intent to deliver and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

The charges stemmed from a Feb. 2 incident that began with McHenry County Sheriff's deputies going to Brennan's home to perform a well-being check, sheriff's police said. Deputies, according to the sheriff's department, smelled marijuana inside the home, which led to a search and the discovery of the 112 plants that made up the indoor growing operation.

Authorities also found 425 grams of marijuana, several pipes for smoking it and lighting equipment, sheriff's police said. The drugs were valued at about $10,760, according to the department.