Man faces prison for role in 2014 St. Charles area indoor pot farm bust
A 48-year-old man faces prison after pleading guilty to a lesser charge following his 2014 arrest in which authorities found more than 450 marijuana plants in an indoor grow operation and nearly 14 pounds of dried pot at his former home in an unincorporated area near St. Charles.
David M. Robbins, formerly of St. Charles but now of the 900 block of Ogden Avenue, Downers Grove, pleaded guilty Monday to felony possession of cannabis, a crime punishable by four to 15 years in prison, although probation also is an option, according to Kane County court records.
In exchange for the guilty plea, prosecutors dismissed more severe charges of manufacture/delivery of more than 5,000 grams of cannabis, a felony that carries a minimum six-year prison term and a top punishment of 30 years behind bars.
Hallock will sentence Robbins, who has been free since his parents posted $15,000 bond Feb. 28.
Robbins entered a "cold" or "blind" plea in which a defendant does not have an agreed- upon sentence with prosecutors and leaves the decision to a judge, in this case, James Hallock.
Robbins' case was set for a jury trial in October, but that was postponed while his attorney challenged the case, arguing authorities destroyed the evidence despite a judge's order to preserve it. Robbins argued the inability to do his own tests violated his right to a fair trial, records show.
The motion was not heard by Hallock and the guilty plea was entered instead.
Authorities arrested Robbins in November 2014 after executing a search warrant at a home on the 38W500 block of Mallard Lake Road where 463 marijuana plants in various stages of growth were found in the garage, basement and first floor. Officials said they also seized nearly 14 pounds of dried marijuana; the overall value of the drugs was $500,000.
Robbins also had an active order of protection against him that required him to turn over all his firearms, so authorities seized two handguns and a rifle.