PORT CARBON - The green thumb behind the elaborate marijuana-growing operation uncovered by firefighters on Nov. 28 will have his preliminary hearing in January, according to members of the Schuylkill County Drug Task Force.
The hearing for Dean Vermeersch, 53, of Port Carbon, is scheduled for 1 p.m. Jan. 10 at the office of Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon, a spokeswoman from Plachko's office confirmed Friday.
"We have not yet definitively decided on the prosecutor, but thus far it may be ADA Doug Tagliari as he covers Plachko's office where the preliminary hearing will be held," Schuylkill County First Assistant District Attorney Bill Reiley said.
On Nov. 28, officers from the task force charged Vermeersch with running a hydroponic marijuana operation on the second floor of 233 Coal St., Port Carbon.
Firefighters discovered the operation early Nov. 28 when an electrical fire started in the home, which is one half of a duplex. The fire spread to the other half, 231 Coal St., a three-story home owned by Lamar E. Staller, 44, and his wife, Katrina M., 43. They lived there with their daughter, Becky, 14, and six cats.
The Stallers' six cats died in the blaze. A cat that lived at 233 Coal St. escaped the house but suffered burns and was in critical condition. It was taken to Schuylkill Veterinary Hospital, 1170 Route 61, Pottsville, for treatment, but it did not survive, a hospital spokeswoman said Friday.
Two representatives of the task force, Port Carbon police Chief Jon J. Bowman and county Detective Gregory S. Meisner, filed the charges against Vermeersch.
Vermeersch was charged with three felonies, one count each of possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance, manufacturing a controlled substance and causing or risking a catastrophe; seven misdemeanors, one count each of operation of a drug manufacturing establishment and being a public nuisance and five counts of possession of a controlled substance, and one summary violation of disorderly conduct, according to the criminal complaint.
Bail was set at $50,000 straight cash. Unable to pay it, Vermeersch was placed in Schuylkill County Prison. Vermeersch was still in prison Friday, according to a prison spokesman.
"I am not aware of any additional charges filed than what was indicated on the Criminal Complaint. The Commonwealth will present testimony to prove a prima facie case and I expect that Chief Bowman will be testifying. The confiscated marijuana plants were taken to the State Police Crime Lab in Bethlehem for further analysis, but field testing was already positive," Reiley said Friday.