Deputies sniff out 18 marijuana plants in Stuart man's backyard, according to report

Deputies on Monday charged Ralph Yother, 52, of the 1100 block of Southwest Tropical Terrace, with felony cultivation of cannabis and felony possession of cannabis over 20 grams, after 18 plants were found growing in his backyard, according to a Martin County Sheriff's Office arrest affidavit.

Yother told deputies he was growing the herb for medicinal purposes but his wife had pulled the plants days ago.

However, deputies could smell a strong odor of fresh cannabis.

As Yother directed one deputy to the west side of his backyard a second deputy went to the east side and found the plants, the affidavit states.

"He found them," Yother announced when the second deputy found the marijuana.

As of Tuesday, Yother was being held at the Martin County Jail $10,000 bail.