WESTERLO — A Westerlo man has been arrested for unlawfully growing marijuana after Albany County Sheriff’s deputies and New York State Parole officers inadvertently found the plants while searching for another man who had broken parole.

On Sept. 21, the sheriff’s office arrested 57-year-old Robert J. Haley, of Westerlo, for second-degree criminal possession of marijuana, a felony, and unlawfully growing of cannabis, a misdemeanor, according to a release from the sheriff’s office.

Sheriff’s deputies and parole officers were searching for Benjamin Haley, who had violated his parole for third-degree burglary, a felony, and visited his relative’s property, according to the release. Robert Haley’s shed was searched and marijuana was found growing there. About three pounds of marijuana were seized by the sheriff’s office.

Robert Haley was arraigned in Westerlo Town Court before Judge Kenneth Mackey, and was released under supervision of probation, according to the release.

According to Albany County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy William Rice, the arrest was not released to the public until Benjamin Haley had been found.

“He turned himself in, in Catskill,” he said.

According to Albany County Sheriff’s Senior Investigator J.T. Campbell, Benjamin Haley, also of Westerlo, had committed burglary at the Mobil gas station in Berne.

— H. Rose Schneider