ABC files charges for alcohol still

Published 11:14 pm Friday, May 11, 2012

The Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control has filed charges against a 59-year-old man arrested Thursday in a narcotics raid by Suffolk Police.

ABC agents were called to the 400 block of Vicksburg Road to help police shut down a marijuana grow operation, according to a news release from the agency. However, when they arrived, they allegedly discovered a liquor still, cooker hot plate, cooker pot, cooler coil and barrel, and assorted bottles that contained suspected illegal distilled spirits, according to the release.

After a separate search warrant for the alcohol-related paraphernalia was obtained, Leslie Allen Vanhoose, the owner of the residence, was charged with two class six felonies for manufacturing alcoholic beverages without a license and possession of weapons within 100 yards of a place where alcoholic beverages were unlawfully manufactured. He also was charged with two class 1 misdemeanors for possessing or keeping alcoholic beverages upon which imposed taxes have not been paid and keeping, storing or possessing a still or distilling apparatus without a permit.

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Vanhoose also faces charges dealing with the more than 100 marijuana plants allegedly found at the scene. Two others also were charged with marijuana manufacturing.