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Hernando Today

97 Marijuana Plants Seized In Raids

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By HERNANDO TODAY STAFF

Published: May 15, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - Authorities say they busted two marijuana grow houses and seized a combined 97 plants on Thursday.

One raid happened at 14058 Canada Goose Road, where deputies recovered 60 plants and evidence that the electrical meter box had been tampered with, an affidavit shows.

Arrested and charged with growing pot in connection with that house is 35-year-old resident Luis Hernandez.

The second raid at 1290 Gatewood Ave. in Spring Hill netted 37 plants and two arrests. Charged in connection with cultivation of marijuana and tampering with a meter box at that address is 27-year-old resident Michael Contino and 32-year-old Mailyn Ruiz.

Burglars Flee,

Flip Vehicle

SPRING LAKE Hours of tied-up traffic and a manhunt Thursday in Hillsborough County had ties to the Spring Lake area.

Shortly after noon, three people were trying to break into 4006 Spring Lake Highway when the homeowner startled them and they fled.

That person didn't get a good look at the burglars, but he did get a description of the getaway car, which looked like a blue Nissan Altima. Responding deputies spread that description to law enforcement in neighboring counties, and Pasco County deputies spotted the car headed south on Interstate 75.

They gave chase and the car overturned at the Interstate 275 interchange near the Hillsborough County line. Two of the burglars who bailed out and fled on foot have been caught.

The identities of the suspects were not released Thursday.

Minutes before the burglary on Spring Lake Highway, a witness spotted the suspects leaving the scene of another break-in on High Corner Road, said Sgt. Jim Powers, spokesman for the Hernando County Sheriff's Office.

Some of the loot from that burglary was found in the debris tossed out of the car as it rolled over, Powers said.

Sex Offender Accused

Of Sex With Minor

SPRING HILL A 53-year-old registered sex offender is accused of having sex with his 17-year-old neighbor.

Someone saw the two leaving an abandoned house and responding deputies say they recovered a towel containing evidence of sex from the house's back porch.

The suspect, Joseph Spera, admitted that his relationship with the victim had been going on for some time, a report shows.

Spera, of 6928 Pinehurst Drive, is charged with unlawful sexual activity with a minor. He was convicted as an accomplice to sexual battery of a child in 1993, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

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