A Boulder County mountain man whose body police found in a house filled with marijuana plants last night died by "accident" with a noose around his neck, an official said today.

The man, who was in his 50s, was otherwise healthy before he accidentally killed himself, they said.

"It appears as though it was probably due to an auto-erotic episode," Boulder County sheriff's Cmdr. Phil West said. "I'd rather not go into the specifics."

The man's name and address are being withheld pending the notification of family.

Nothing indicates foul play, the sheriff's office said. The Boulder County Coroner's Office will officially rule on the cause and manner of death.

He had been dead for a couple of days when his boss drove up to his house in Ward, in the mountains northwest of Boulder, to see why he hadn't showed up at work or answered his telephone, West said.

His boss found his body in a seated position with a noose around his neck Tuesday afternoon.

Boulder County sheriff's deputies also found 50 to 60 marijuana plants in a couple of rooms that had been converted into a "substantial marijuana growing operation," West said.

Deputies have spoken with a former roommate, who denied involvement in the marijuana operation. An investigation is ongoing.

bargec@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5059