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Edward Bogunovich, 87, is accused of growing more than 400 marijuana plants in the
backyard of his Denver home.
Bogunovich faces charges that include cultivating marijuana in excess of 30 plants, and
possessing more than 12 ounces of marijuana with intent to distribute more than 100
pounds of marijuana, according to a spokeswoman for the Denver District Attorney’s
Office. Denver Police Detective Christopher Shotts said in an arrest affidavit obtained
by ABC News that Bogunovich presented police with “questionable” state medical mari-
juana documents that provided for 231 marijuana plants between him and two others
who were also growing plants in his backyard. Bogunovich was growing 183 more plants
than he was allowed, Shotts said in the affidavit. Police seized the plants, which weighed
a combined 461 pounds. Reached by phone Monday morning, Bogunovich denied to ABC
News all the charges against him. “I didn’t even have a pipe,” he said. “I’ve got zero plants,
and I have papers to prove it.” In a second interview later on Monday, Bogunovich told
ABC News that there were hundreds of marijuana plants growing in his backyard, but
said they were not his plants. The day before Denver police raided his home, he said he
had divested ownership of his plants, adding that he had a notarized document to prove
it. Bogunovich was released from the Denver Detention Center on a $10,000 bond and
is due back in court Thursday, according to ABC’s Denver affiliate KMGH.
