From the U.S Department of Justice

The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon Jr., announces that James Daniel Garrish III, of Ocracoke, was arrested Tuesday on several charges.

Garrish was named in an indictment filed May 2 charging him with cultivating marijuana on federal property, the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. If convicted of that charge, he would face a maximum term of five years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and a term of up to three years supervised release following any term of imprisonment. Additionally, Garrish was charged with introducing plants into the park ecosystem, littering, trespassing and defacing and damaging real property. Each of these charges carries up to six months’ imprisonment, a $5,000 fine, up to one year supervised release and/or up to five years of probation.

Higdon stated: “Criminal acts which blemish the beauty of our public seashore and the safety of its visitors will not be ignored,” and he reinforced the commitment of his office to partnering with all law enforcement agencies in the Eastern District of North Carolina to keep its communities safe.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Investigation of this case is being conducted by the National Park Service. Assistant United States Attorney Daniel Smith is representing th