Photo: Tom Brian Sedlacek
A Gamaliel man, Tom Brian Sedlacek, who operated what was described as an elaborate marijuana growing operation on his property, entered a guilty plea to charges against him and was sentenced to 10 years probation during a session of Baxter County Circuit Court Tuesday.
The 59-year-old Sedlacek was arrested Aug. 28 last year, as the result of the annual marijuana eradication program conducted in the county by a number of law enforcement agencies.
Officers came to the Sedlacek property along Crystal Oaks Trail, after trained spotters in a helicopter observed numerous cultivated marijuana plants.
In addition, a four-story structure described as a “lookout tower,” in which the entire property could be seen, was located near the residence.
A number of handmade and commercially produced signs were located by officers, all warning if anyone entered the property, they would be shot.
Officers first made a tactical sweep of the property, in order to locate and detain Sedlacek. As the lawmen were clearing the area, they reported hearing a chime-like sound. The sound proved to be a driveway alarm triggered when a person or vehicle approached.
A building with running exhaust fans was found, as officers cleared the property.
When it was deemed reasonably safe for the officers, they backed off and obtained a search warrant for the entire property, including the Sedlacek residence.
After Sedlacek returned to his property, he was taken into custody. He requested an attorney and was not questioned.
However, according to the probable cause affidavit, Sedlacek did talk to officer without being questioned and is alleged to have said he had been growing marijuana since 1992.
He also said he had more than 20 firearms inside the house – at least one an illegally modified weapon. Sedlacek said he also had a quantity of prescription pills in his home, which he could use for currency, if necessary.
According to investigators, Sedlacek said he had problems with his neighbors stealing his marijuana and referred to them using racial slurs. He said he planned on taking care of the neighbors later in the year. He said the neighbors “didn’t deserve to be on this planet,” and added, “I probably don’t either for that matter.”
Sedlacek told officers, if he carried out his threats against his neighbors, “I know it would mean my life, too, but it would be worth it.”
When a search warrant was obtained, officers entered the residence and found 24 firearms, including a sawed off 12-gauge shotgun with a homemade pistol grip, which is classified as a prohibited weapon. Also found on the property were numerous items of drug paraphernalia, several large plastic bags containing thousands of marijuana seeds and almost 600 prescription pills – including methadone and Oxycodone.
Officers found an outbuilding equipped with grow lights, an air filtration system, fertilizer and pots. In all 30-40 marijuana plants in various stages of maturity were found on the property.
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