A Sheldon couple face felony drug charges after an activated alarm at their home led to the discovery of 18 marijuana plants and three pounds of pot, authorities say.

Beaufort County sheriff's deputies were called Monday to the Priester Road home of Charter Eston Prentice II, 50, and Nancy Prentice, 52, where they found an open door, an activated alarm and a strong odor of marijuana wafting from of the house. They also saw several plants growing along a shed, which they confiscated along with packaged marijuana found in the house, according to Sgt. Robin McIntosh.

The Prentices were charged with manufacturing marijuana and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

They were released on their own recognizance about four hours after their arrest, according to the Beaufort County Detention Center.