A man charged with growing marijuana at his home on Dyches Road is still at large after his wife and adult son were arrested on similar charges, said Bulloch County Drug Suppression Team Inv. Jim Riggs.
      A probation officer visiting Joshua Clemence Hill, 22, Dyches Road, found a stalk of marijuana in the house, and promptly called Suppression Team agents, he said. Also arrested was Joshua Hill’s mother, Debbie Lee Hill, 47, Dyches Road.
      Deputies are seeking James Gregory Hill, 47, also of Dyches Road, Riggs said.
      Joshua Hill was on probation for a drug conviction in North Carolina, and Bulloch County state probation officers went to the Hill’s Dyches Road home  Thursday to confirm Joshua Hill’s new address, as his probation case had been transferred when he moved, Riggs said.
      Debbie Hill answered the door, and when the probation officer asked for Joshua, she closed the door. When she returned and allowed the probation officer inside, he observed the stalk of marijuana, Riggs said.
      Both Riggs and BCDST Inv. Marcus Nesmith responded to the scene and found not only the stalk of marijuana inside, but more marijuana, a grow light, and equipment in the bathroom indicating a growing operation was set up there, he said.
      The windows were covered in Styrofoam, and a hook was suspended for supporting a grow light over the bathtub, he said.
      Further investigation led to the discovery of more marijuana plants growing outside in the back yard, about 40 feet from the home, Riggs said. The plants ranged in height from two to seven feet.
      “We went back inside and Debbie Hill denied the plants were hers,” he said. When Joshua Hill was questioned, he “ nodded no” that the plants were not his either. 
      When the investigators asked for permission to search the home, Ms. Hill granted permission, and they found grow lights, prescription pills for which no one had a prescription, and two rifles that were seized due to Joshua and James Hill being convicted felons, he said.
     James Hill was convicted on a manufacturing marijuana charge in 2000,having grown marijuana at the same location previously, Riggs said.
      Joshua  Clemence Hill  was charged with manufacturing marijuana, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon,  and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Debbie Lee Hill was charged with manufacturing marijuana, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a Schedule IV drug ( phenobarbitol) and possession of a dangerous drug ( Flomax.)
      Warrants were issued for James Gregory Hill for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and manufacturing marijuana.
      Debbie and Joshua Hill are being held without Bond in the Bulloch County Jail. Anyone with information about James Hill’s whereabouts is asked to call the Bulloch County Drug Suppression Team at 764-1762 or Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office at 764-8888.