A Tamaqua man faces drug charges after state police found marijuana plants growing at his residence in late August.

Jose Aponte, 28, was arraigned last week by District Judge Stephen Bayer on possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of a small amount of marijuana.

He was released on $25,000 unsecured bail.

According to court papers, state police received a tip through the federal Drug Enforcement Agency about marijuana growing at 117 Schuylkill Ave., Tamaqua, and subsequently executed a search warrant on Aug. 28.

Aponte at first told police that there was only one plant inside the home, and then there were three plants in the backyard but they were male plants, court papers said.

He also told police that there was one plant drying in the kitchen, and it was a female with buds on it.

Aponte admitted that the plants in the backyard were the ones that he grew, and also that the residence smelled of marijuana, according to court papers.

He told police that he and his girlfriend often smoke marijuana in the house.

State troopers, who were assisted by Schuylkill County detectives, seized six suspected marijuana plants in the backyard, one plant in the bedroom that had been harvested for consumption, and backwoods packaging containing suspected marijuana.