Opinion ID: 492448
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: 2 In 1985, defendant Beniach's two sons, Marshall and Michael, along with Ron Edwards, rented a parcel of farm land near Time, Illinois. On September 30, 1985, while conducting aerial surveillance, a state police pilot observed several patches of marijuana growing throughout a field on the aforementioned property. Thereafter, law enforcement agents conducted an intense surveillance of the cornfield which included the use of sensor alarms at each entrance of the property to detect activity and thereby alert the agents to determine what was transpiring. 3 After initially observing Michael Beniach and Ron Edwards at the field, agents were alerted to the presence of a red harvesting combine and two pick-up trucks located at one of the entrances to the property on October 22, 1985. The following day, the agents observed several trucks belonging to the various defendants including a white Ford feed truck owned by defendant Mueller which arrived just before 1:00 p.m. 4 Throughout the afternoon, agents heard the combine harvesting the field and observed three loads of corn being removed including one in Mueller's feed truck. At the same time however, an agent maintaining aerial surveillance witnessed the disappearance of marijuana from the field. Moreover, the surveillance pilots noted the unusual operation of the combine which appeared to be just opening up enough of the fields ... to get to the marijuana patches. 5 At approximately 8:00 p.m., the harvesting operations ceased and three vehicles left the field together proceeding to a farmhouse rented by the Beniach brothers and Ron Edwards. Those vehicles included Andrew Beniach's pick-up truck, Michael Beniach's pick-up truck, and Mueller's feed truck. After establishing a surveillance position across from the farmhouse, agents observed five males walk from the rear of a large shed adjacent to the house. 6 Shortly thereafter, Mueller's feed truck was observed leaving the farmhouse. Agents also observed Andrew Beniach's truck depart, as well as several other vehicles. Just after leaving the farmhouse, each vehicle was stopped by law enforcement personnel. Mueller was the sole occupant of his truck. His clothing smelled of marijuana and loose quantities of marijuana were found on both the rear ledge and in the bed of the truck. Additionally, a pair of pruning shears found on the front floorboard of the truck contained a small quantity of marijuana. 7 When stopped, Andrew Beniach's pick-up truck was occupied by Andrew Beniach and his son, Marshall. Agents testified that the cab of the truck smelled of marijuana and the clothing of both Andrew and Marshall contained small amounts of loose marijuana. Additionally, three loaded firearms and a large quantity of ammunition was recovered from the truck. 8 The following day, agents searched the farmhouse and adjacent shed pursuant to federal search warrants. The shed contained large quantities of drying marijuana plants hanging upside down from its rafters. Many of the plants had been freshly cut. A search of the farmhouse revealed that its entire second floor was covered with drying marijuana and contained various marijuana processing items ranging from dehumidifiers to scales and plastic bags.