Man reports burglary, charged with pot possession

November 11, 2008


Memo to pot smokers: It's probably a good idea to hide your paraphernalia before reporting a burglary and inviting police into your home.

Police say 28-year-old Justin R. Luecke learned this lesson the hard way after reporting a burglary Monday night.

Responding officers noticed a marijuana pipe in plain sight in Luecke's bedroom, and marijuana stems and seeds were spotted in his living room, according to a criminal complaint filed Tuesday. Officers later returned with a search warrant and found additional marijuana, and an ensuing search of Luecke turned up a scale and marijuana packaging, the complaint said.

Luecke told police the pipe belonged to a friend, he found the scale and the packaging was not his. He denied any knowledge of the stems and seeds, the complaint said.

Police also found two different kinds of unauthorized prescription pills, the complaint said. Luecke was charged with felony marijuana possession and misdemeanor counts alleging possession of a controlled substance, an illegally obtained prescription and drug paraphernalia.

Luecke faces a maximum of 26 months behind bars, if convicted on all counts.