A man will spend up to four years in prison for growing marijuana in his Slippery Rock duplex in 2012.

Paul A. McConnell, 26, who now lists a Portersville address, said at his sentencing Thursday by Butler County Judge William Shaffer that he was sorry for his behavior.

According to court records, police searched McConnell’s home after a neighbor reported “an unusual amount of visitors at all hours of the day and night” at the defendant’s apartment.

In the apartment, investigators found 27 marijuana plants and two ounces of processed marijuana.

Also seized were assorted growing equipment including five hydroponic lights, two timers, a water irrigation system, air ventilator and fan.

Additionally, police said they found about 1,000 empty stamp bags of heroin, 20 hypodermic needles and other contraband, and 72 clonazepam pills, an antiseizure drug.

McConnell, who already had a drug manufacturing conviction in 2010, pleaded guilty to manufacturing with intent to deliver in this case.

Additionally, he pleaded guilty in two other unrelated cases: defiant trespassing in a 2013 case; and receiving stolen property and conspiracy in a 2014 case.

In total, Shaffer sentenced McConnell to serve 21 to 48 months in state prison. Additionally, he must pay $4,000 in the stolen property case which involved scrap metal.

McConnell’s defense attorney Patrick Casey said since his client’s arrest, McConnell has been free on bond, employed at a plastic products company and “putting his life in order.”