Power records, tips lead to large marijuana bust

WASILLA — A Valley man was indicted this week for possessing 50 marijuana plants and almost 13 pounds of unprocessed pot, authorities said.

A grand jury indicted Todd Bergeron, 50, of Wasilla on three counts of fourth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance and one count of tampering with physical evidence July 25, court records show.

Tips, past history, and Matanuska Electric Association power records lead troopers and the Mat-Su Drug Unit to Bergeron’s Amber Circle front door July 16, according to a sworn affidavit written by Trooper Nasruk Nay.

Bergeron refused entry to troopers executing a search warrant, who subsequently heard a commotion in the house, and spotted Bergeron “running out to the fire pit in the back yard, throwing boxes on the active fire,” the affidavit reads in part.

They later found a smoldering pot brick in the fire. Inside the house, they found 50 plants between 6 inches and 4 feet tall weighing 12.86 pounds, which, by law, translates into a processed weight of 2.143 pounds, according to the affidavit.

Troopers found more evidence in the bathroom, Nasruk wrote.

“Marijuana leaves and pieces were found in the toilet, in the bath tub, and the plunger was wet, as well as the floor in the bathroom,” he wrote. “The defendant’s T-shirt was wet and he was sweating.”

Bergeron faces sentencing in September for a March felony conviction on four counts of fourth-degree misconduct with a controlled substance and a single count of third-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance, and investigators also used MEA power records showing a quadrupling of power use at the house over the last year, according to the affidavit. Bergeron also has a prior felony conviction in Superior Court in Anchorage related to marijuana, for which he received a suspended sentence, according to Alaska Court documents.

Bergeron posted bond July 17, according to jail records. He faces out-of-custody arraignment on the latest charges Aug. 4, court records show.

If convicted, Bergeron faces up to five years imprisonment for each felony conviction and a fine of up to $50,000.

Contact Brian O’Connor at 352-2269 or brian.oconnor@frontiersman.com.