Boy Calls Cops on Pot-Growing Parents: Police

A Doylestown couple was arraigned on Tuesday after their son called police and reported his father was growing marijuana in their home, according to the Philly Burbs.

A Doylestown couple was arraigned on Tuesday after a 15-year-old boy called police and reported his father was growing marijuana in their home.

It happened May 9 at a home on the 2000 block of Par Drive in Doylestown Township. Police say the boy led the arriving officer to the basement of the home where he found a room with several marijuana plants inside, according to court documents.

Police obtained a search warrant for the home. During the search, police say they found 18 marijuana plants, grow lights, fans, plants, timers and electrical chords from the basement room. They also found more marijuana, packaging equipment and cash in the master bedroom of the home.

Investigators say five juveniles, ranging from 10 years of age to 17 years of age lived in the house and knew about the marijuana being grown.

The boy’s parents, Caren Shanfield, 45, and Francis Joseph Medvedik, 49, were arrested and charged with manufacturing a controlled substance, criminal conspiracy, possession of a controlled substance and endangering the welfare of a child.

They were both arraigned with bail set at $100,000 unsecured for each. They were released on a signature bond. A preliminary hearing date is set for June 8.

Shanfield is a chiropractor while Medvedik is a software engineer, according to the Philly Burbs. Philly Burbs also reports neither parent has a prior criminal record in Pennsylvania according to online records.

Medvedik's attorney claims the marijuana was for personal use only and that the children were never in harm's way. Shanfield's lawyer Louis Busico claims his client never committed a crime in the first place.

"Our position is she was doing nothing illegal," said Busico. "I don't believe there's any evidence whatsoever anywhere of any type of business or selling or sharing with others."

"They're being painted as pot parents," said Claire Kelly, the couple's neighbor. "They are not. They are really good neighbors and take care of those kids and love those kids." 

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