By Britney Milazzo
Lockport Union-Sun & Journal
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A Ransomville man was charged Thursday with a handful of drug and weapon charges after Niagara County sheriff’s deputies found he was growing marijuana and held two teens at gunpoint after they reportedly tried to steal the drug, according to a U.S. District Court document.
Jerrod M. Farnham, 43, was charged with unlawfully growing marijuana, illegally possessing the narcotic with the intent to distribute, and knowingly and unlawfully possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Farnham grew and sold marijuana from his 2779 New Road home, Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Maigret said in a statement.
On May 13, Farnham, reportedly saw, via security camera, two teens break into his detached garage, where the marijuana was being grown. Farnham held the teens at gunpoint, and three friends came to help him hold them captive, according to the report.
“Farnham and the associates proceeded to hold the youths for more than four hours, allegedly threatening them and physically assaulting them,” the report said.
Christopher R. White, 16, of Lackawanna, and David J. Evans, 18, of Wilson, were charged at the scene by deputies with third-degree burglary and fourth-degree criminal mischief.
According to a report from the sheriff’s Office, the incident ended when White’s mother found out the teens were being held and contacted police around 4 a.m.
Deputies said teen’s mother learned what was going on after she got a call from her son’s friend, who said he got a call from an unknown person about the incident.
Deputies said White and Evans told them they went into the garage to steal the marijuana Farnham was growing.
Detectives, with help from the Niagara County Drug Task Force, found an additional handgun and other firearms in Farnham’s home, Chief Deputy Steve Preisch said in May during the investigation.
“All parties were cooperative,” he said.
Farnham could face up to life imprisonment, a $2.5 million fine or both. Deputies said the other men involved in the holdup have not been charged.
Contact reporter Britney Milazzo at 439-9222, ext. 6251.
