College student avoids jail for pot; gets probation
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A judge sentenced a Fort Lewis College student to probation for growing marijuana in San Juan National Forest. Eric Jones, 25, pleaded guilty July 28 to one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 50 marijuana plants. The charges carried a maximum prison term of 20 years, but Judge Phillip Figa sentenced him to probation, said Jeff Dorschner, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. In April, a resident called forest rangers to report seeing the same car parked at the Devil Creek trailhead near Piedra almost every day for two months. Forest Service agents checked the area and found several patches of 6-inch tall marijuana plants covered in plastic or black mesh. Two camouflage-clad agents videotaped Jones tending to the plants, and a search of Jones’ house turned up dried marijuana leaves and cultivating equipment. When agents finally dug up the patch on May 13, they counted 87 marijuana plants. Two Durango men stand accused of a similar crime. Reuven Eitan and Kenneth Panzarella are charged with growing 89 marijuana plants near Forebay Lake, just north of Durango. Eitan pleaded not guilty last week. Panzarella’s case was moved to Denver. The Forest Service relies on resident tips to uncover drug cultivation on Southwest Colorado’s vast tracts of public land. Call San Juan Public Lands at 247-4874 to report discoveries of marijuana plants. More : durangoherald.com |