NORTH ANDOVER — Alex Gioia Jr. told police he grew the marijuana plants they seized during a search of his home for his own personal use.
Acting on an anonymous complaint, police obtained a search warrant for Gioia's residence at 106 Pleasant St. and found 27 three-foot high marijuana plants in a growing room attached to the garage Tuesday.
He told police he used special lighting, reflective insulation, watering cans, electric timers, and heat to grow marijuana in the room, according to reports filed in the case.
Gioia was arrested at the Andover library where he works as a custodian and charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, manufacturing and cultivating marijuana, and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school zone.
Gioia posted $2,500 cash bail and was released Tuesday night.
Yesterday in Lawrence District Court, a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf, and Judge Mark Sullivan continued the bail. He was ordered to return to court Feb. 25 for a pre-trial hearing.
He was represented by attorney Anne Randazzo.
Detective Lt. Paul Gallagher said police attention was drawn to Gioia by an anonymous complaint of a lot of foot traffic in and out of his house, and that the person making the complaint said they had seen marijuana growing openly in the back yard in the past.
Andover Town Manager Reginald "Buzz" Stapczynski said that upon learning of his arrest, he immediately placed Gioia on paid administrative leave from his $44,746-a-year job, pending the outcome of the case.
North Andover detectives Thomas Donovan, Robert Barter, Sean Daley, Sgt. Jay Staude, Andover detective Michael Lane, and Todd Prough, special agent with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation and search.
