A Jamaica couple was arrested Wednesday night on marijuana-growing charges when Guthrie County deputies were seeking a fugitive but instead found 18 pot plants.
Randy Kennedy, 58, and LaDonna Kennedy, 50, were each charged with manufacture with intent to deliver no more than 50 kilograms of marijuana, two counts of failure to affix a drug stamp, one count of knowingly keeping a dwelling for possessing or selling a controlled substance and first-offense possession of a controlled substance.
According to a criminal complaint filed by the Guthrie County Sheriff’s office, deputies were directed to the Kennedy residence at 500 Wink Ave. in Jamaica at the request of the Greene County Sheriff’s office, which was seeking Rodney Halterman of Jefferson, who was wanted in connection with an attempted murder in Story County.
Halterman is the adoptive brother of Randy Kennedy’s granddaughter. He was not located in the Kennedy home.
In searching the Kenendy residence, deputies found 18 marijuana plants, nine bags of marijuana and varies items of drug paraphernalia. Randy Kennedy was also charged with one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
The pair was initially held at the Guthrie County Jail on $18,300 bond and released Thursday on their own recognizance.
The Guthrie County Sheriff’s office was assisted by the Dallas County Sheriff’s office, Greene County Sheriff’s office and Iowa State Patrol.
LaDonna Kennedy is the mayor of Jamaica, a Guthrie County town of about 217.
*A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
