A Mays Landing man who stood trial for growing marijuana received a split verdict Thursday, which included convictions for marijuana possession and operating a drug production facility.

Medical Marijuana
FILE - This Feb. 1, 2011 file photo shows medical marijuana clone plants at a medical marijuana dispensary in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)
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"The jury has spoken and Defendant Jon Peditto has been found guilty of the first-degree Operating a CDS Facility charge and the fourth-degree possession of CDS. He has been remanded to the custody of the state," Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Spokesman Al Della Fave said in an email Thursday.

Peditto, 54, admitted to growing 17 marijuana plants, primarily for personal use, which were discovered by police in Tuckerton in 2012. He also admitted to selling weed to family and friends as a source of income.

Peditto, who called into the Dennis & Judi show Thursday while awaiting the verdict, said he was growing the marijuana plants in the Pine Barrens. When he went to check on the plants, he said, police were there and placed him under arrest.

Peditto was convicted by an Ocean County jury of first-degree operating a drug production facility and fourth-degree possession of marijuana. In the split decision, he was found not guilty of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

Peditto, a full-time photographer, represented himself at the trial.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Toniann Antonelli is the digital managing editor at NJ 101.5. Reach her at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.

 

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