Apr 6, 2016 2 min read

An Amwell Township man faces a preliminary hearing next month on charges filed by state police after troopers found a suspected marijuana growing operation on his property in October.

Alfred M. Ralston, 64, of 551 Smith Run Road, Amity, was charged with manufacture and delivery and possession of marijuana after troopers from the Bureau of Criminal Investigation found numerous marijuana plants on his property on Oct. 6. Troopers had received information about marijuana being stored at the residence.

Troopers were met by Ralston near the front door of his home. They could smell a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the house. Ralston reportedly gave troopers consent to search his property.

Troopers removed 58 marijuana plants from first- and second-floor growing rooms of the outbuilding. There also were drying marijuana plants hanging in the second floor of the outbuilding.

Taken from the living room of the house were 25 bags of marijuana with another 27 bags removed from the dining room. Marijuana was also found in a plastic container in a dining room closet. Found in the kitchen were a scale, bagging equipment and another bag of marijuana.

In the trunk of an antique Pontiac, troopers found 21 bags of marijuana along with $19,000. Another $2,568 was found in the living room.

This is not the first time Ralston has faced drug charges. He and two other men were sentenced in 2000 for their roles in a nationwide marijuana operation that started in Mexico and then stretched to Arizona and Washington County. He was sentenced to 23 to 46 months in jail on charges of delivery of marijuana and corrupt organizations.

The latest charges against Ralston were sent by summons from the office of District Judge Ethan Ward. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing May 3.