CREWS ROAD, Fla., Oct. 27 (UPI) -- Baker County, Fla., authorities found a teen chained in a room during a drug bust of a mobile home used to cultivate marijuana.
Troy Howell, 29, of Crews Road, was arrested and charged Wednesday with cultivation of marijuana and aggravated child abuse for chaining up his 18-year-old nephew to keep him from telling authorities about the operation, The (Jacksonville) Florida Times-Union reported.
Sheriff Joey Dobson said more than 100 marijuana plants and 15 pounds of processed marijuana were found in and around Howell's mobile home.
"It was really an elaborate situation," Dobson said. "He had all kinds of indoor equipment grow lights. ... Apparently he was distributing this marijuana and selling it by the pound."
Dobson said besides being chained up, the teen showed other signs of abuse, including marks around his neck, head, shoulders and back.
"Troy had basically tied a chain to the axle of the trailer and ran it under the floor and actually tied him [the teen] up around the neck in his bedroom there," Dobson said.
Investigators went to Howell's home after his 13-year-old niece, who also lived with Howell along with another nephew, 15, told officials at Baker County Middle School about the marijuana cultivation at their home. School officials then contacted the sheriff's office.
It is unclear as to why the teens, who were taken into custody by the Florida Department of Children and Families, were in Howell's custody.
