A State College man was arrested Tuesday after law enforcement officials eradicated a plot of 235 marijuana plants he was allegedly growing.

Robert Merklin, 43, of 232 Strouse Ave. was charged with the manufacture and possession of the marijuana, which weighed 419 pounds and was worth more than $50,000, Rockview State Police said.

The plants, which averaged between six and nine feet in height, were found by a hunter in June in a fenced-off plot on state game lands, police said.

After an investigation --conducted by State Police Troop G Vice Unit, Rockview State Police, the Pennsylvania National Guard, Centre County Detective Kevin Barr, Patton Township Police and University Police Services --the plants were eradicated on Sept. 23, police said.

Merklin was arraigned before District Magistrate Robert May and is being held at Centre County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bail.

A preliminary hearing for the case is scheduled for Oct. 14.