Mundelein pot grower gets probation

A 43-year-old man was placed on probation for two years Monday after admitting he was growing marijuana in a house across the street from the Mundelein police station.

Scott Raus, of the 200 block of North Seymour Avenue, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of marijuana plants during a hearing before Lake County Circuit Judge John Phillips.

Assistant State's Attorney Steven Derue said a 19-year-old female who lives in the house with Raus went to the police station around 8 a.m. June 22 to complain that Raus had struck her during an argument.

An officer went to the house with the woman to look for Raus, and she let the officer inside the house, Derue said.

The officer saw marijuana leaves and several pipes inside the house, Derue said, and then left the residence to obtain a search warrant.

When police returned, they found 78 marijuana plants growing in four locations in the house, Derue said, as well as nine grow lamps and a quantity of drug paraphernalia.

Phillips also ordered Raus to perform 200 hours of community service and fined him $700.

Derue said Raus faced up to five years in prison if he had been convicted after a trial.