Marijuana plants lead to brothers' arrest

Two Wagener men have been arrested after 135 marijuana plants, many over 6-feet tall, were found growing at their home during a helicopter fly over this week

Timothy Leon Woodby, 52, of 7323 Wagener Road is charged with trafficking marijuana over 100 plants.

Roger Dale Woodby, 63, of 7323 Wagener Road is charged with trafficking marijuana over 100 plants.

The men are brothers.

Investigators say that around 2 p.m. Monday, Aiken County Sheriffs Office narcotics deputies, along with agents from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), conducted a routine marijuana eradication fly-over of the Wagener, Salley and Perry areas.

During the aerial search, investigators located the plants growing at 7323 Wagener Road.

Investigators went to the residence and spoke with the home owners. As a result of investigation, the marijuana plants and a large quantity of marijuana seeds were located at the residence, said Capt. Troy Elwell, a sheriff's office spokesperson.

Deputies routinely work with SLED to conduct fly-overs as part of the eradication program.

"We use SLED helicopter and pilot, and we loan them narcotics investigators," Elwell said. "We had other investigators on the ground, and then they move in."

Investigators use the helicopter to cover a large area in a short period of time but also to view areas that are near overgrown vegatation.

"We couldn't find some of these places without the chopper," Elwell said.

The plants were anywhere from a foot to 6 feet tall.

"It appears as if they were staggered in age to mature at different times," the captain said. "We don't know the men's intent, but, at this point, we have no proof they profited from a sale."

Investigators stripped the leaves and buds off the stalks for destruction.

Contact Karen Daily at kdaily@aikenstandard.com.