Authorities, while following leads in an illegal dumping investigation, were able to seize over 1,500 marijuana plants from a San Miguel residence on Saturday.
Officers arrested the house's inhabitant, Douglas King, at about 1:30 p.m., the Monterey County Sheriff's Office said. The 34-year-old, a registered sex offender from San Luis Obispo County, was also nabbed for stealing electricity from PG&E.
According to the Sheriff's Office, a California Department of Fish and Wildlife officer used a PG&E bill to track down King's residence on the 76000 block of Hidden Creek Road.
The officer located King in the property's backyard where he also noticed about 100 marijuana plants, at varying stages of maturity, authorities said. However, upon serving the suspect a search warrant, officers discovered 1,502 marijuana plants, ranging in height from 4 inches to 4 feet.
Sheriff's Officers also reclaimed 6.71 pounds of processed marijuana and Butane Honey Oil manufacturing equipment, authorities said.
King's charges include possessing marijuana for sale and planting and cultivating marijuana.
