Photo for illustrative purposes.
By Jon Johnson
GRAHAM COUNTY – A man who allegedly assaulted his neighbor and cut down and stole her cannabis plants was booked into jail on charges of felony theft, assault, and criminal damage.
According to a Graham County Sheriff’s Office report, deputies were dispatched to the Thunderbird Mobile Estates at about 1:11 p.m. on Sept. 21 regarding an assault and theft. Upon arrival, the victim said the perpetrator, identified as Wayne Jones, 39, broke into her backyard garden and started cutting up her cannabis plants. Cannabis was legalized for medical use in Arizona by Proposition 203 in November 2010 and the recreational use of cannabis by Proposition 207 in November 2020. Proposition 203 also allowed for the cultivation of up to six plants for personal use and created a section for “caregivers” to cultivate plants for other medical patients who could not do so on their own.
The victim said she heard a loud bang and went outside to discover Jones cutting up her plants with long-handled clippers. When she attempted to stop him, Jones allegedly pushed her to the ground and commanded his pit bull dog to attack her. Jones then threw the plants over the south fence, walked out the gate, and retrieved them.
Jones was then seen taking the plants from his residence to a white Ford hatchback and drove west on Saguaro Street onto Ironwood Drive, leaving a Hansel and Gretel-like trail of cannabis sprigs from the scene of the crime to his residence and to where he ultimately disposed of them along the roadway, according to the Sheriff’s Office report.
A deputy following the trail of cannabis sprigs located Jones on Ocotillo Street and made a traffic stop. Inside the car were more cannabis pieces and a Pit Bull in the backseat. At that time, Jones denied any involvement in anything that occurred at the victim’s residence.
An Animal Control officer waited with Jones’ dog until the canine could be turned over to another party of Jones’ choosing. The cannabis pieces were collected from the roadway and the victim advised the value of the destroyed plants was more than $1,000, making the theft a felony.
Jones was then taken to jail and booked without further incident.
