Ryan Gates, 17, was charged twice in connection with a stolen marijuana plant on Oct. 30.
After Sweet Home Police received a report that he was drying marijuana at 820 12th Ave., police responded, took Gates into custody and charged him with manufacturing a controlled substance, more than one ounce of marijuana, and manufacturing a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school.
Police transported him to Linn-Benton Juvenile Detention Center.
Police seized the marijuana, Sweet Home Police Chief Bob Burford said, but the marijuana allegedly did not belong to Gates.
A mature pot plant can be worth up to $3,000 each, Burford said.
“Later the same day, a reported medical marijuana card holder reported that a mature plant was stolen,” Burford said. “We linked it back to the marijuana that Gates had.”
The marijuana was reported stolen by Timothy Moore, 49, of 1636 Fir St.
Gates was charged with first-degree theft, second-degree criminal trespass and third-degree criminal mischief in connection to the reported theft.
When police could verify that Moore was a valid card holder, they planned to return the marijuana, Burford said.