Pubdate: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 Source: Wisconsin State Journal (WI) Copyright: 2004 Madison Newspapers, Inc. Contact: http://www.wisconsinstatejournal.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/506 Author: Nathan Leaf, Wisconsin State Journal Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) TEEN TURNS IN DAD FOR GROWING POT A town of Beloit teenager who said he was tired of "crack-heads" sleeping in his house took matters into his own hands earlier this month, telling police his father was growing marijuana. The man was charged Tuesday in Rock County Circuit Court with one felony count of possession with intent to deliver narcotics, officials from the Rock County clerk of courts office reported. He faces a maximum $50,000 fine or 15 years in prison or both if convicted. He was out of jail Tuesday on a $500 signature bond. The man's name is being withheld to protect the teen. According to a police report, town of Beloit police responded to a call at Turner High School on June 3 about a truant student. When they found the 17-year-old, he told police he was unable to act normal because "his parents were so messed up." He also told police his dad was growing marijuana in a cabinet in the family's house and "crack-heads" were sleeping over in the home. When the teen let police into his house, they found a 5-foot-tall gray metal cabinet containing two florescent lights and seven marijuana plants growing in buckets, according to the criminal complaint. Town of Beloit Deputy Chief Willis Abegglen said he wasn't surprised by the situation. He said several children in the area have turned in their parents when they ran into trouble, often in an effort to escape their home. "This is nothing. They do it all the time." "It's nice to see kids outsmarting their parents in a good way instead of in a bad way," he said. Madison Police Lt. Carl Strasburg said Madison also has seen instances of children turning in their parents for keeping drugs in their home. "It's happened before, but I would characterize it as rare," he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin