ALEXANDRIA — A rural Alexandria man was being held on $10,000 bond late Wednesday in the Delaware County Jail after he was arrested the day before on suspicion of growing marijuana in his home.

Indiana State Police troopers arrested John J. Barnhouse, 52, on suspicion of cultivating marijuana and maintaining a common nuisance, both Class D felonies punishable by six months to three years in prison if he is convicted.

Barnhouse’s address is listed in Alexandria, but he lives in the 15000 block of Bethel Pike, which is in Delaware County, Sgt. Rod Russell, with the ISP’s Redkey Post, said in a news release.

According to Russell, Senior Trooper Ron Halbert learned from the Muncie-Delaware County Drug Task Force that Barnhouse was growing marijuana in his home. Halbert is the marijuana eradication coordinator for the Redkey District.

Halbert got a search warrant for the home, and investigators discovered seven marijuana plants growing in a detached garage on Barnhouse’s property. They also found about 10 grams of marijuana in his residence.

Barnhouse wasn’t at the home when the search warrant was served, but later turned himself in at the Delaware County Jail.

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Have a tip?

Anyone with information about marijuana grow operations can report them anonymously at the Indiana State Police’s marijuana tip line by calling (888) 873-1694 or (800) 761-2985.