Redding man's 4/20 surprise: $47,500 in fines over alleged pot violations

5/5/18

"A Redding man is on the hook for almost $50,000 after city code enforcement officials said they found numerous violations at his home — including over 400 marijuana plants — on April 20, a de facto holiday in cannabis culture. 

Redding California Code Enforcement Supervisor Steve Willkomm said the pot at 30-year-old Benjamin Segan's Spaniel Court home was in the dining room, bedroom closet, an "entire bedroom" and the entire two-car garage. Residents who are allowed to grow can only have up to six plants.The house is some 333 feet from Boulder Creek Elementary School, Willkomm said. 

Some of the pot was still growing, while some of it was drying or already harvested in plastic and glass containers, Willkomm said.

Meanwhile, Willkomm said there were also illegal alterations at the house, including an inoperable garage door with hardware removed, a sealed side door, plastic sheeting on interior walls, air conditioning equipment that was "larger than the main house system," an extra electrical panel and wiring in the garage, and a Co2 burner with propane tanks. 

Willkomm said he fined Segan $47,500 for the zoning, building and pot violations at the home. He might also face criminal charges from law enforcement, Willkomm said. 

Segan couldn't be reached for comment.

Willkomm said it's important to remember that all marijuana grows in the city — even medicinal ones — have to be indoors, and the grower has to have a license to grow and possibly also building permits."

Here's a link to the city's pot rules: https://www.cityofredding.org/home/showdocument?id=18989