A man and a woman were arrested Thursday after Jackson County officials said they found a marijuana operation worth about $200,000 in their home.

John Thomas Alexander, 69, and Sandy Chamblee Alexander, 60, both of Braselton, were charged with manufacturing marijuana, the Jackson sheriff’s office said in a statement.

The discovery was made while sheriff’s deputies were responding to a domestic violence call, the statement said.

Deputies smelled the odor of marijuana while investigating the domestic incident. When officials obtained a warrant and went inside the home, they found an indoor marijuana grow that contained 44 plants.

“Each plant can yield up to 1 pound of high grade marijuana that is worth $2,200 to $4,500 per pound,” the statement said.

Investigators estimate the operation could have had a street value of up to $200,000.

The Alexanders were both booked into the Jackson jail, where they remain with no bond.

In other news:

Officials said the man sat down in the restaurant and refused to leave. Moments later, police were called.

About the Author

Featured

Peggy Harris (foreground) stocks the shelves at Sandy's IGA, which is the only grocery store in town, Tuesday, October 7, 2025, in Sparta. Hancock County has one of the highest rates of childhood food insecurity in the country. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: Hyosub Shin/AJC