A Hilo grand jury has indicted a local dog behaviorist embroiled in a dispute for control of a Banyan Drive apartment building for allegedly growing marijuana in the complex.
A Hilo grand jury has indicted a local dog behaviorist embroiled in a dispute for control of a Banyan Drive apartment building for allegedly growing marijuana in the complex.
The two-count indictment dated Wednesday charges 57-year-old Carl Frederick Oguss with first-degree commercial promotion of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The indictment states that Oguss “knowingly cultivated, possessed or had under his control” 100 or more marijuana plants on June 26, 2013. Police said a search warrant was served at the Country Club Condo Hotel and that 125 marijuana plants were seized along with storage containers.
Oguss is president of a board of apartment owners engaged in a legal battle with the building’s master leaseholder, Herbert Arata, his wife, Alyce Arata, and others.
The Aratas and building management recognize another board presided over by Pearl Elena Macomber.
First-degree commercial promotion of marijuana is a Class A felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison, while the paraphernalia charge is a Class C felony punishable by up to five years imprisonment. A bench warrant set Oguss’ bail at $12,000.