Whitpain man receives probation for growing marijuana at his home

A Whitpain man will be under court supervision for several years after he admitted to growing marijuana inside his residence.

Michael Francis Pier, 51, of the 800 block of Rabbit Run Road, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to three years’ probation after he pleaded guilty to a felony charge of possession with intent to deliver marijuana in connection with the November 2011 incident.

$V D FRnGLWLRn RI WKH VHnWHnFH, -uGgH Thomas C. Branca also ordered Pier to IRrIHLW WwR rLflHV, wKLFK DuWKRrLWLHV VHL]HG from his home during the investigation, to county detectives.

An investigation began after “a conFHrnHG FLWL]Hn” nRWLfiHG SRlLFH Ln 2FWREHr 2011 that Pier had marijuana growing inVLGH KLV rHVLGHnFH DnG DlVR KDG firHDrPV inside the residence, according to the ar- rHVW DIfiGDYLW filHG Ey :KLWSDLn DHWHFWLYH Brad Potter.

2n 1RY. 2, 2011, “D FRnFHrnHG FLWLzen” complained to police that Pier had been making alarming comments online.

“Pier is telling people that he is going to put them six feet under and has guns and ammunition,” alleged Potter, adding Pier also posted on the Internet that he “has EHHn GRLng GrugV Dll PRrnLng DnG LV DIfilLated with motorcycle gangs.”

Authorities obtained a warrant to search the residence Nov. 2, and that search uncovered a small marijuana growing operation in Pier’s bedroom closet, according to arrest documents.

Also seized were numerous smoking pipes, a small pill bottle containing suspected marijuana, various products used WR grRw PDrLMuDnD, WwR .22-FDlLEHr rLflHV, ammunition and documents and ledgers related to growing marijuana, according WR WKH DrrHVW DIfiGDYLW.