Marijuana operation raided

MOULTON - A husband and wife were arrested Thursday after authoritie discovered an elaborate, marijuana-growing operation in the couple's house.

James Alvin Burnett, 38, and Lisa Michelle Burnett, 33, both of 468 Lawrence 198, Danville, were charged with first-degree manufacturing drugs and chemical endangerment of a child, authorities said.

Lawrence County Sheriff Gene Mitchell said James Burnett also was charged with first-degree possession of marijuana.

Authorities said three children, ranging in age from 6 to 17, live at the house but were not there at the time.

"We found evidence that they were present while the manufacturing process was going on," said sheriff's Capt. Tim McWhorter.

Mitchell said the couple had turned an inside closet in their master bedroom into a growing operation.

He said agents with the drug task force and deputies seized more than a dozen marijuana plants that were part of a hydroponic marijuana grow lab, equipped with water oxygenation systems, grow lamps, reflective sidewalls, ventilation systems and cooling systems. Hydroponic is a growing process that does not use soil.

McWhorter said marijuana packaged for resale and marijuana being dried in preparation for packaging also were found inside the converted closet.

"We got a tip from concerned citizens about possible drug activity at the residence, and we were able to locate the operation," McWhorter said. He said the residence is at the edge of Bankhead National Forest near the Morgan County line.

The sheriff said it was obvious the operation was going on for some time. He said the operation was set up in two phases.

He said one section of the lab held young plants while another was where the plants were transplanted into the hydroponic system.

"Every so often you run across someone who might have a couple of plants growing in a closet with a lamp, but nothing this elaborate," McWhorter said. "This is very unusual."

McWhorter said a state troopers' helicopter was called in to check for plants being grown outside the house, but only one was found.

Lisa Burnett was released on bail of $25,000, while James Burnett is being held in the Lawrence County Jail without bail.

Tom Smith can be reached at 740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.