A North Vernon man is facing a long list of preliminary charges after a week-long investigation into illegally harvested ginseng.
Conservation officers with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources say that 57-year-old Brian T. Barrett was arrested on initial charges of buying illegally-possessed Ginseng out of season and being a non-licensed Ginseng buyer.
But a search warrant served at his home allegedly revealed evidence of other crimes ranging from dealing methamphetamine and possessing stolen handguns, to possessing eagle feathers and eastern box turtles.
The commander of the conservation district, Lt. Bill Beville, says drug use and illegal ginseng possession frequently go together.
Barrett is facing preliminary charges including:
- Dealing in Ginseng without a License
- Illegal Possession of Ginseng
- Dealing in Marijuana
- Dealing in Methamphetamines
- Possession of Marijuana
- Possession of Methamphetamines
- Maintaining a Common Nuisance
- Possession of Stolen Firearms
- Possession of Eagle Feathers
- Possession of Owl Feathers
- Possession of Eastern Box Turtles.
Conservations officers say that American Wild Ginseng can only be harvested between Sept. 1st and Dec. 31st of each year, because the plant’s berries are immature until around September and will be unable to repopulate if harvested prematurely.