Paul Homa

A Concord Township man caught growing marijuana in his Boydstown Road house twice in less than two years was sentenced Thursday to state prison.

Paul Homa, 54, pleaded guilty to drug manufacturing and was sentenced by Butler County Judge William Shaffer. But it was a secondary charge — related to guns found in the felon’s home — that caused Homa’s cumulative incarceration to hike up to 2½ to 8 years in state prison.

According to court records, Homa was first arrested in April 2011 when investigators found marijuana growing outside his home.

In that case, court records say, investigators found marijuana embedded in a pickup truck when they visited his home while looking for a different person wanted on a warrant.

A search of the property followed, uncovering the outdoor grow operation, according to court records.

Homa pleaded guilty to felony drug possession, served 72 hours in prison and was on probation when the second incident occurred Jan. 6.

Court records say a county probation officer on a routine stop noticed several marijuana plants hanging and drying in Homa’s house and in an out building. Other processed marijuana was reportedly found in plastic bags and on a plate in the kitchen and eight long guns and a loaded .357-caliber revolver were also in the home.

Because Homa already is a felon, he’s barred by state law from possessing firearms.