Pair grew marijuana at illegal day care

CLARENDON, N.Y. (WIVB) - A peace officer for a NYS agency and a woman are accused of growing marijuana in the same home they were operating an illegal day care out of.

The DEC began investigating 29-year-old Jamie Fanton and 25-year-old Jasmine Almeter after complaints of an illegal dumping. Inside several garbage bags, environmental agents found evidence of a marijuana growing operation. Working with the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force and Orleans County Sheriff's Office, authorities executed a search warrant on Taylor Road in the Town of Clarendon and placed the pair under arrest.

Authorities say the two were running an illegal day care and four children aged 2- to 5-years-old were present when the search warrant was executed. In one room of the house was a marijuana growing operation with several plants, a quantity of dried marijuana and other drug paraphernalia.

Fanton, who has been a peace office for the NYS Finger Lakes Developmental Disabilities Service Office for the past seven years, is charged with fourth degree criminal possession of marijuana, two counts of unlawfully growing marijuana, and four counts of first degree unlawfully dealing with a child.

Almeter is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and four counts of first degree unlawfully dealing with a child.

Both face additional charges as Child Protective Services investigates the illegal day care operation and the DEC concludes its investigation of the illegal dumping.