The suspect was ordered held in lieu of $30,000 cash bail
Nicholas J. KorniotesSPRINGFIELD – A 40-year-old Sixteen Acres man, arrested Tuesday after police discovered what they described as a sophisticated marijuana growing operation at his Maybrook Road home, was ordered held in lieu of $30,000 cash bail during his arraignment Wednesday in district court.
Police said a reported armed invasion of the suspect’s 139 Maybrook Road home led to their discovery of 92 marijuana plants in the basement.
Nicholas J. Korniotes denied charges of cultivating marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and violation of a drug-free school zone during his arraignment.
Police were called to the house off Wilbraham Road by Korniotes’ 14-year-old daughter who reported two armed men forced their way into their house while she was alone and locked her in a closet. She called 911 from the closet with her cell phone, Sgt. John M. Delaney said.
When police searched the house to make sure no suspects were hiding inside, they quickly detected the smell of marijuana and found the growing operation, Delaney, aide to Police Commissioner William J. Fitchet, said.
The suspects, described as two black men in their 20s, left the area in a newer silver-colored vehicle that witnesses said they parked a block away from Maybrook Road.
Delaney said police seized the suspect’s house, boat, cars, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and froze his bank accounts.
Police are also looking into the ownership of five other properties that Korniotes owns, Delaney said.
Assessor records indicate, however, that Korniotes is listed as the owner of only one Springfield property, his home at 139 Maybrook Road. That property is assessed at $150,300.
Delaney said police could find no record that Korniotes has a job.
Assistant District Attorney Marie Angers asked Judge William J. Boyle to hold Korniotes on that $30,000 bail.
Boyle revoked Korniotes bail on a 2010 assault and battery case pending in district court because the new charge is a violation of conditions of pre-trial release in that case.
Boyle told Korniotes although he appointed lawyer Daniel Bergin for the arraignment, Korniotes’ financial statement showed he will have to hire his own lawyer from now on since he does not qualified for a court appointed lawyer.
Angers said on reason the high bail was requested is because police found paperwork from a number of accounts from different banks.
Detectives continued to probe Korniotes’ assets on Wednesday.
Earlier Tuesday, in an unrelated case, Wilbraham police and federal investigators arrested a Brainard Road couple and seized 73 marijuana plants that were growing in the basement.
Reporter Buffy Spencer contributed to this report.