BRENTWOOD — A Florida man charged with storing marijuana at a Londonderry home may strike a plea agreement after a key witness against him — his father — suddenly died in April, according to court documents.

Michael Mecke, 38, of New Smyrna, Fla., was allowed to put off his Oct. 1 trial so his lawyer could continue plea negotiations with county prosecutors.

Mecke was indicted on single counts of possession of a controlled drug with intent to sell and possession of a narcotic. He also faces two misdemeanor drug charges.

Prosecutors allege Mecke kept marijuana and Oxycodone inside the house, which he rented to his late father, also named Michael.

Defense lawyer Stephen Jeffco requested putting off the trial date saying prosecutors and his client “are engaged in plea negotiations, which will probably result in a non-trial disposition of this case.”

A judge gave Mecke a Jan. 28 trial date in the event the case doesn't end with a plea deal.

County prosecutors confirmed on April 12 that Michael Mecke Sr. died from a “sudden fatal cardiac arrhythmia.”

Prosecutors already asked to put off Mecke's trial date once so they could reassess their case after the death of Michael Mecke Sr.

Mecke Sr. initially complained to Londonderry police about his son's alleged drug business, claiming that Mecke was a “big-time drug dealer,” according to prosecutors.

The father reported the drugs to police after he got into an argument with his son about storing a half-pound of marijuana inside a couch, according to court documents.

Police executed a search warrant at the home and found $41,000 in cash and drugs.

About $25,000 in cash was stuffed into Mecke's pants and another $16,340 was inside his rental car — along with marijuana and Oxycodone, according to prosecutors.

The father told police he had his own troubles with the law because of his son's drug business, prosecutors said.

Mecke Sr. was arrested in Nebraska on March 12 after police discovered he was carrying 58 pounds of marijuana in the Ford pickup he was driving along Interstate 80. He was involved in a fender-bender with a semi-truck which prompted state police to respond to the crash, according to court records and news accounts of the incident.

The elder Mecke told Londonderry police he was on a drug run for his son when he was arrested, according to a petition filed in federal court.

Federal prosecutors won permission from a judge earlier this year to seize Mecke's home in Londonderry and $41,000 in cash found while executing the search warrant.

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James A. Kimble may be reached at JKimble@newstote.com.