Hemp Farmer Charged After Detaining Thieves Pleads Not Guilty

PLAINFIELD, IL — The local hemp farmer who was arrested after detaining alleged thieves stealing from his farm has plead not guilty. Ashraf Hasan is facing charges of reckless discharge of a firearm and reckless conduct in the confrontation with the thieves, Will County court records show.

In the early morning hours of Oct. 14, Hasan allegedly noticed a group stealing from his hemp farm in Plainfield Township and went to confront the thieves, the Will County Sheriff's office said at the time. Hasan ran into the field and fired his handgun several times in the air to scare off the thieves. The group fled into the nearby neighborhood, and Hasan got into his car to chase them, authorities said.

Hasan found the alleged thieves in a car, and the group drove in reverse to flee from the man, but their car struck a tree. The group got out of the car and Hasan drew his gun and forced them to the ground, holding them at gunpoint, police said.

Police said they searched the car of the alleged thieves and found metal shears and a hemp plant. A search of the hemp farm turned up a pair of metal shears and a machete, according to the department.

The group told police they were on the farm to steal what they believed to be cannabis plants. Hemp is grown for a number of industrial uses and does not produce a high when ingested.

Hasan, 43, was charged with one count of reckless discharge of a firearm, two counts of reckless conduct and three counts of disorderly conduct, court records show. He paid $5,000 bond and was released and was released on Oct. 14, the day of the incident.

Hasan has since plead not guilty, and the case is scheduled for a preliminary hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, court records show.

Moises Luna, 18, of Plainfield, was arrested in the incident and charged with theft under $500 dollars, criminal trespass to property, criminal damage to property and contributing to the delinquency of minors, police said. It is unclear where his case stands. A 15-year-old Plainfield boy and a 16-year-old Romeoville boy were also arrested in the case and charged with theft, criminal trespass and criminal damage to property.

Hasan allegedly told police that his farm was having a problem with thieves stealing his plants. On Oct. 4, Hasan filed a report with the Will County Sheriff's Office regarding the theft of 30 hemp plants from his farm, according to Plainfield Police. That incident happened Sept. 8, and Hasan submitted surveillance video to authorities, police said.