March trial set in marijuana case

PALMER -- Five defendants face trial March 1 on charges stemming from allegedly operating a marijuana growing operation in a Wasilla-area home.

Those indicted by a Palmer grand jury include Edward R. Bent, 22, three counts of fourth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance; Vance E. Dale, 23, five counts of fourth-degree MICS; Chris D. Gossett, 24, three counts of fourth-degree MICS; Kenneth A. Harding, 38, four counts of fourth-degree MICS; and Jamie L. Vaughn, 23, five counts of fourth-degree MICS.

The charges are class C felonies punishable by up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of $50,000. Each defendant pleaded not guilty.

The Mat-Su Drug Team executed a search warrant last month at Harding's home on Camino Cielo Drive regarding a suspected grow operation, according to charging documents. Investigators found three men and one woman harvesting several budding marijuana plants in the garage, documents said.

Vaughn, who is Dale's fianc/e, told investigators she and Dale knew Harding because the two men were co-workers at Doyon Drilling, according to an affidavit from Alaska State Trooper Kyle Young.

The drug team got a tip that Gossett was growing marijuana and set up other people in growing for a share of the profit, the affidavit said. Gossett was the residential electrical subscriber and a suspect in a marijuana grow operation seized in 1998, Young said.

Investigators seized 73 budding marijuana plants under seven high-intensity light systems from the house's crawl space, charging documents said. They also seized "a large amount" of processed marijuana, along with growing equipment, scales, drug paraphernalia and one firearm, documents said.

Young said in the affidavit that plants and processed marijuana would weigh "well over" one pound, which is the amount that triggers a charge of manufacturing with intent to deliver under Alaska law.

Investigators also seized what they called "a small marijuana grow operation" of nine plants at the Wasilla-area home where Dale and Vaughn reside, charging documents said.