Court rejects plea deals for Minnesota mayor and son accused of illegally growing hundreds of marijuana plants
UPDATE (Sept. 8, 2024): Charges were dropped against Jacob and Scott Robertson on Aug. 27 and Aug. 28, respectively, according to court documents.
WINNEBAGO, Minn. — A court has rejected plea deals for a southern Minnesota mayor and his son accused of illegally growing marijuana, according to the county attorney.
Former Winnebago Mayor Scott Robertson, 68, and his son, Jacob Robertson, 47, both pleaded guilty to an amended charge of third-degree misdemeanor possession of cannabis last month as part of a proposed plea deal. The deal would drop other charges against them stemming from the unlawful cultivation of more than 23 cannabis plants.
On Monday, the Faribault County Attorney's Office told WCCO the court did not accept the plea deals and "the matter is still pending." A hearing is scheduled for Sept. 6.
The South Central Drug Investigation Unit and the Faribault County Sheriff's Office located "approximately 240 plants believed to be marijuana" at three different addresses in Winnebago associated with the Robertsons.
According to charging documents, the Robertsons previously operated a licensed and regulated hemp cultivating operation. They each had a license active in 2023 but it expired at the start of the year. Regulations also require each hemp crop to be registered with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. They had not registered one since 2021.
Court documents state that none of the labeled plants found on the Robertsons' properties matched the known and registered hemp seeds and plants permitted to be grown in the state.