Pair accused of growing marijuana inside home

The house's landlord pleads ignorance. The tenant says the pot is for his personal use.

By JOEL ANDERSON, Times Staff Writer
Published January 26, 2008

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BROOKSVILLE - Two men face charges after Hernando deputies found about 65 marijuana plants and two shoe boxes half full of the drug in their Brooksville home Thursday.

Shawn Finnegan, 31, of Weeki Wachee, and Sean Donahue, 26, of Trinity, were both arrested and booked into the Hernando County Jail after authorities searched their home at 12271 Eakin St. They were each charged with cultivation of marijuana, possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia. Their bonds each totaled $15,500.

According to the Hernando County Sheriff's Office, deputies acting on a search warrant found the marijuana plants growing in three separate grow rooms and growing equipment needed to cultivate the narcotic, including grow lights, fans and watering systems. The deputies also found two shoe boxes with more than 20 grams of marijuana in the kitchen of the home.

A search of Donahue's car also turned up a marijuana pipe, a black bag containing scales and plastic bags normally used to sell drugs, according to an arrest report.

Donahue told deputies that he rents the home to Finnegan and didn't know drugs were being grown there. Finnegan also told authorities that he rented the residence from Donahue and the grow operation belonged to him, Finnegan, for his personal use.

Joel Anderson can be reached at joelanderson@sptimes.com or 754-6120.