Drugs, guns found in raid of Hernando home

WEEKI WACHEE — Deputies serving a search warrant at a home Wednesday found more than 2 pounds of packaged marijuana, pills, weapons and drug paraphernalia.

According to a Hernando County Sheriff's report, deputies had to breach a specially installed keypad entry lock to get into the master bedroom of the house at 11055 Marsh Wren Ave., where they found Thomas Allopenna, 21.

In the room, they also found a loaded .45-caliber pistol, a loaded SKS 7.62 rifle and marijuana in five packages, according to the report. In the kitchen, they found a digital scale, pills and other paraphernalia.

Allopenna told deputies that the other person arrested at the scene, Edward Gaither Jr., 24, of Spring Hill, was not involved and was a house guest. Gaither, who is on probation for a drug charge, was arrested on several charges, including possession of marijuana and violation of probation and was being held at the Hernando County jail without bail.

Allopenna was arrested on various drug charges and was held on $15,500 bail.