SEP 09-- BOWLING GREEN, KY - A federal grand jury in Bowling Green returned an indictment against Jonathan Witherspoon, age 24, of Albany, Kentucky, on charges of manufacturing marijuana plants, United States Attorney Candace G. Hill of the Western District of Kentucky announced today.

The Indictment alleges that on August 29, 2009, Kentucky State Police discovered four marijuana plants in a cornfield 200 yards from Witherspoon’s residence. Further investigation resulted in the seizure of 237 plants, most in planting trays.

In the event of a conviction, the maximum potential penalties are not less than five years imprisonment, a $2,000,000 fine and not less than four years supervised release.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James H. Barr and it was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Witherspoon is scheduled to appear for arraignment before the United States Magistrate Judge on September 23, 2009, at 10:00 a.m., in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

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The indictment of a person by a Grand Jury is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.