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Woman given probation in marijuana growing case
By Edith Brady-Lunny
eblunny@pantagraph.com
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BLOOMINGTON — A Cooksville woman involved in a large-scale marijuana growing operation was sentenced to two years of probation.

Melissa Ostrom, 24, was arrested with Craig Hardesty in April after police discovered about 80 marijuana plants growing at a home on Weinland Boulevard in Cooksville. McLean County Sheriff Mike Emery described the scene as the largest grow operation and one of the most sophisticated he had ever seen.

In addition to the probation term, Ostrom was ordered to complete 30 hours of public service and serve six days in jail. An additional 174 days were stayed pending a remission hearing.

Hardesty was sentenced to four years of probation earlier this month for his role in the growing operation. A 180-day jail term also was part of his sentence.

Police reports indicate two rooms of the home were used as a growing facility. High-pressure sodium lights and a hydroponics starter farm were found by police.

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Reader comments on this story - 11 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

skdf wrote on Jan 22, 2008 1:20 PM:

" this is BS.if a mexican that was "

joebob wrote on Nov 26, 2007 4:59 AM:

" Deenie I am so glad you took Your valuable time to enlighten the public about the danger of repeating drug war fallacies. "

to deenie wrote on Nov 25, 2007 8:33 PM:

" doing pot isn't harmful "

Deenie wrote on Nov 25, 2007 1:49 PM:

" Marijuanna is a gateway drug. The people that would have purchased and did this pot would later crave harder drugs an may have committed serious crimes to obtain said harder drugs. Don't tell me that doing pot isn't harmful. "

I think wrote on Nov 25, 2007 10:48 AM:

" I think they should stop arresting U.S. citizens till they start arresting the illegals doing the same thing.I for one wouldn't turn anyone in .I didn't used to feel that way . "

me wrote on Nov 25, 2007 10:38 AM:

" I think there should be no laws about this petty stuff. "

reader wrote on Nov 25, 2007 10:38 AM:

" huh, an illegal would of been let go and the chance to do it again and again. "

windycity2 wrote on Nov 25, 2007 8:36 AM:

" I think that growing marijuana is the way to go. No worry about long prison time around here. "

READER wrote on Nov 25, 2007 6:40 AM:

" I know someone who got 7 years hard time for possesion of 5 grms. It just doesn't seem right. They Must have had a easy Judge or had the right name to just get probation!!!!!!!!!!OUR SYSTEM SUCKS SOMETIMES. "

Mr. Green wrote on Nov 25, 2007 1:52 AM:

" What happened to the Happy Splashes guy? "

?????? wrote on Nov 25, 2007 12:46 AM:

" Slap me on my wrist...Oh, that hurts....lol. "
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