Bonneville Co. Deputies Make Pot Grow Bust

Two Bonneville County men are behind bars and are being charged with growing marijuana.

The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office said they received information from a fisher man on Aug. 13, who had wandered into the marijuana grow in the Kepp’s Crossing area on BLM land.

Officers located the grow the next day and began surveillance on the area.

Mark Richard Taberna, 47, of Ammon, and Brent Lee Stigen, 29, of Idaho Falls, were charged with felony manufacturing a controlled substance.

The sheriff’s office confiscated 12 marijuana plants, capable of producing multiple pounds of pot. The estimated value exceeds $70,000 dollars.

Sheriff Wilde said, “The Bonneville County Sheriff?s Office will pursue all information on illegal marijuana growing operations occurring in Bonneville County. The law is clear, manufacturing or growing of illegal drugs in our community will be addressed and prosecuted. We are involved with all Sheriff?s offices in the State, DEA and all participating law enforcement office for eradication of marijuana. In this case the BLM has been very involved in the investigation. The BLM. does not want this illegal operation on public lands. Although this is not the largest grow operation in the state, the message sent should be clear. Law Enforcement will pursue this illegal activity.”