A La Plata County man was sentenced Friday to two years probation for attempting to steal 10 pounds of marijuana plants from a local grower.

Jason Allen Hughes, 35, declined to address the court before sentencing, saying he didn’t want his comments to appear in The Durango Herald.

Hughes pleaded guilty to felony burglary and theft, a misdemeanor.

The incident occurred about 9:20 p.m. Sept. 25 near the 1700 block of Colorado Highway 172, southeast of Durango.

According to an arrest affidavit, Hughes was caught red-handed attempting to steal marijuana plants at a greenhouse owned by Adam Caver.

Caver told police he confronted Hughes and asked him if those were his plants he was stealing. Hughes replied, “Yeah,” and fled on foot, according to the arrest affidavit.

Caver chased Hughes, and Hughes stopped running to pull a pair of scissors from his hoodie and made stabbing motions toward Caver, according to the affidavit. Hughes then turned around and kept running.

Caver continued to pursue Hughes, and Hughes said, “Get away man, I have a gun,” according to the affidavit. Hughes eventually fled in a 2003 blue Buick sedan.

La Plata County Sheriff’s Office deputies tried to stop the vehicle, but Hughes continued driving to Southwest Horizons Ranch subdivision where he exited the car.

He was found about an hour later walking near Highway 172 and U.S. Highway 160, where he was arrested, according to the affidavit. Hughes refused to talk to police.

shane@durangoherald.com