(La Porte, IN) - A La Porte area man is accused of stealing from NIPSCO to power his marijuana grow operation.

 

Police made the alleged discovery after the suspect’s house was heavily damaged by fire on Thanksgiving.

 

Billy Adams, II is charged in La Porte Circuit Court with Level 6 Felony Theft and Class A Misdemeanor Dealing Marijuana. According to court documents, Adams and his family were not home when a passerby spotted the house on fire on County Road 200 North just outside the La Porte city limits.

 

They were visiting family in Kingsford Heights, police said. The single-story house and detached garage had power from Adams rigging a connection to a service line at a utility pole sometime after NIPSCO turned off the service.

 

According to court documents, the stolen electricity also powered large halogen bulbs, and other parts of a marijuana grow operation inside his garage. About 30 plants in various sizes were seized.

 

Three dogs and a cat perished in the fire. Adams lived at the home with his wife and seven children. He could face as much as three and a half years in prison.