BANTAM - Christopher Seekins, arrested two years ago for growing marijuana in his Winsted home, allegedly moved his operations to Torrington.
Seekins, 27, received international attention when a Bantam Superior Court judge ordered him to get rid of marijuana leaves he painted on the side of his home at 24 High St., Winsted, after Winchester police seized 185 marijuana plants from his house in October 2005. He was sentenced to serve three years probation for cultivation of marijuana. Two years of jail time was suspended by the court.
Seekins was arrested by Torrington police Monday night and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia in a school zone, possession of more than four ounces of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of marijuana in a school zone and sale of illegal drugs.
Seekins' probation officer received an anonymous tip that Seekins resumed his indoor greenhouse at 49 Gleeson St., Torrington. Seekins was surprised when his probation officer, accompanied by Torrington police detectives, paid him a visit at his house at 9 p.m. Monday.
Probationers are subject to random searches of their homes - a legal caveat of which Seekins was apparently not aware. Seekins complained to Bantam Superior Court Judge Paul Matasavage at an arraignment hearing Tuesday that he was not served with a search warrant and argued he deserved a lower bond. He told the court he intended to represent himself again.
Matasavage set bond at $100,000 and scheduled him to return to court Oct. 10.
Police said they seized 58 plants from a bedroom closet. The plants were growing under lights rotated by a motorized rail system, according to court records. Police also allegedly found 1.84 pounds of marijuana drying inside a refrigerator covered with a blanket. In Seekins' basement, more growing equipment was found, including 24 bags of potting soil, grow lamps and scales, according to court records.
Seekins challenged his October 2005 arrest, and on his Web site
GorillaGrow.org(anic) Home of Organic Chemistry Homepage, he displays several court documents about why he believes police had no right to search the Winsted house. Also listed on the Web site are a variety of mathematical and scientific theories disputing the validity of the number pi, and additions of elements to the periodic table.
Seekins also includes his suggestions for a new paint job at the White House, complete with marijuana leaves and new landscaping to include marijuana plants on the South Lawn.
Seekins expresses his frustration about his arrest and the legalization of marijuana: "It is time to give the people back their freedom in this so called 'Land of the Free.' I myself will never have my complete freedom nor the ability to get a job as I face 25 years for growing the same crop as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson...hemp. Many other Americans are doing life in prisons for growing the plant that has never caused harm to a single person in the history of mankind. Production of acres of this plant can even fetch the death penalty under current laws. Although no one has been put to death for this many have had their lives taken away."
Tracy Kennedy can be reached by e-mail at
[email protected].