An Elizabethton man and woman pleaded guilty in Criminal Court on Monday to drug charges related to a marijuana growing operation police found inside their home.

On Monday, Joshua Daniel White, 42, and Crystal Starr White, 37, both of 613 W. E St., Elizabethton, each entered guilty pleas to charges of the manufacture of Schedule VI drugs and maintaining a dwelling for the manufacture of a controlled substance. Criminal Court Judge Stacy Street sentenced both Joshua White and Crystal White to serve two years probation through the Tennessee Department of Corrections.

Joshua White and Crystal White pled guilty “by information,” which is when a defendant reaches an agreement with the District Attorney’s office to plead guilty without having been indicted.

The charges against Joshua White and Crystal White were originally filed by investigators with the Elizabethton Police Department in February after officers served a search warrant at the couple’s home on West E Street. According to court documents, police found 99 marijuana plants inside the home along with a growing system. According to police the growing system featured grow lights and other equipment as well as “numerous items” of drug paraphernalia. Officers also reported finding a plant growing ledger in the home.

Both Joshua White and Crystal White were originally charged with possession of Schedule VI drugs for resale, manufacturing Schedule VI drugs, maintaining a dwelling for the manufacture of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and child neglect.

Charges against the two were initially heard in Carter County General Sessions Court. During a court appearance in May, both Joshua White and Crystal White waived their right to a preliminary hearing and asked the court to bind their charges over to the Grand Jury. The two worked out their agreement with the District Attorney’s Office in lieu of a Grand Jury indictment. The District Attorney’s Office elected not to pursue the other charges against the pair and included only the manufacture of Schedule VI drugs and maintaining a dwelling where a controlled substance is manufactured charges in the information.

They were also allowed to enter their guilty pleas under judicial diversion. When a defendant enters a guilty plea under diversion, their conviction is “diverted” for an agreed upon amount of time and they must meet certain conditions set forth by the court. Once the person successfully completes the court’s conditions they can have the conviction expunged from their record.

A third individual, David Brodin, 29, who was living at the home with Joshua White and Crystal White, was also charged as part of the EPD investigation. He faces charges of possession of Schedule VI drugs for resale, manufacturing Schedule VI drugs, maintaining a dwelling for the manufacture of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and child neglect.

Brodin’s case is still pending at this time. During a court appearance on June 20 he waived his right to a preliminary hearing and asked his case to be bound over to the Grand Jury. He is scheduled to appear in Carter County Criminal Court on Oct. 2.