KIESTER — A 65-year-old rural Kiester man is facing a felony drug charge in Faribault County District Court after he was arrested last week for an alleged marijuana growing operation inside his home.

According to court records, Patrick Michael Marley faces one count of fifth-degree drug possession stemming from the arrest.

Faribault County Sheriff’s Office deputies and agents with the South Central Drug Investigation Unit executed a search warrant at Marley’s home, 6335 570th Ave., Kiester, on Feb. 23, at which time they reportedly found 32 marijuana plants growing in the basement, bags of harvested marijuana, a scale and other drug paraphernalia.

The search was conducted after Faribault County deputies received a tip about a possible marijuana growing operation at the residence.

After receiving the tip, a deputy drove by the residence and observed indications that an operation was taking place there, court documents state.

Based on the tip and his own observations, the deputy obtained power records for the house, which indicated the energy consumption for the house was three to four times that of a similarly sized residence.

The deputy then obtained a search warrant authorizing thermal imaging of the property. The thermal imagery indicated it “was likely a marijuana growing operation was taking place inside the residence,” court records continue.

At the time the search was conducted, Marley and one other person were found inside the house. Marley reportedly told authorities that the operation was all his, and the other person had nothing to do with it.

Authorities seized the following items from the house:

• 14 marijuana plants from the northeast basement room

• 18 marijuana plants from the southeast basement room

• One manual scale from the southeast upstairs room

• One gallon bag of green substance from the southeast upstairs bedroom

• One plastic bag of green substance from the southeast upstairs bedroom

• One sunlight power supply from the northeast basement room

• Two grow lights with light bulbs from the southeast basement room

• Nine grow light bulbs from the basement

• One bag of green substance from the living room center table

• Two bags of green substance from the living room

• One bag of marijuana stems from the living room

• One bag of marijuana leaves from the living room

• One box of miscellaneous pipes and lighters

• Cell phones

• Cash of $260 found close to the marijuana

Marley reportedly posted a bond Monday and is next scheduled to appear in court March 7.

His charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.