NORWICH – The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office have arrested a Norwich man for allegedly having two hydroponics bays connected to his garage that were growing 56 marijuana plants.

Police charged 75-year-old Charles E. Rogers with unlawfully growing marijuana, a misdemeanor, after they raided his home along county Road 34 in the Town of Norwich at 11 a.m. Friday and confiscated dozens of young marijuana plants.

“Law enforcement estimates that on average, each plant could produce between a pound to a pound and a half of marijuana when fully matured. Its street value is around $2,000 a pound, so the 56 plants could have yielded more than $50,000 worth of drugs,” said Detective Sgt. Richard M. Cobb.

The Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate the incident and has not ruled out further arrests. Police discovered the “grow houses” after deputies received a tip that was called into the office, said Cobb.