Drug charges are taken very seriously in the state of Florida. Having skilled legal representation in a drug case is very important.

A North Central Florida man was arrested Friday in Ocala after police reportedly saw marijuana plants growing on his property.

According to a news report, a Marion County sheriff's deputy was on the man's property to serve an arrest warrant to a woman for an unrelated charge. While the deputy was at the residence, he said that he noticed marijuana plants in the backyard and inside the home, by looking through a window.

The deputy contacted the Multi-Agency Drug Enforcement Team who then obtained a search warrant to enter the property. Inside, they reportedly found more than 60 marijuana plants and a shotgun.

The man was later arrested, not far from the home, and he told police the marijuana plants and gun belonged to him and led police to two additional properties where there were a more plants.

He now faces very serious charges, two counts of cultivating marijuana and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Convictions on these charges carry very serious penalties. In cases like these, it is very important to have a defense that will ensure the charges are not overly harsh and that the defendant is given a fair trial. First, it would be necessary for the defense to ensure that law enforcement obtained the search warrant, evidence and confession legally. Even when the evidence seems to be stacked against a defendant, it is sometimes possible to seek a plea agreement in order to minimize the penalties.

Source: Ocala Star Banner, "Man charged with cultivating pot plants," Austin L. Miller, Feb. 11, 2012