Pot farm plea deal costs Round Lake man cash, guns

A Round Lake man was placed on 30 months of probation Tuesday after pleading guilty to growing nearly nine pounds of marijuana in his basement.

Arthur Wittert, 56, also agreed to forfeit nearly $25,000 in cash and three guns as part of his negotiated plea of guilty to possession of marijuana.

Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Matthew Demartini said agents of the Lake County Metropolitan Enforcement Group served a search warrant on Wittert's house in the 700 block of North Overlook Circle on July 6.

Inside the house, police found 96 Mason jars full of marijuana that Wittert had categorized by various "blends" and potencies.

Three rooms in his basement had also been converted into grow chambers and were outfitted with special lighting, irrigation systems and ventilation.

To avoid a possible 15-year prison sentence, Wittert agreed to surrender to the county the $15,000 he had posted for bond and $9,986 in a bank account.

Wittert, who has no previous criminal convictions, also agreed to give up two handguns and a shotgun he had in his home.