MAN GETS THREE YEARS FOR OPERATING POT FARM

Oakland -- A 50-year-old man has been sentenced to three years in state
prison after pleading guilty to charges that he operated a marijuana farm
near Oakland's Auto Row commercial district.

According to his attorney, Stephen Mario Barsotti, 50, entered his guilty
plea to possession of marijuana for sale and cultivation of marijuana
October 5, six days after he surrendered to police.

In exchange for the suspect's plea, four other counts of marijuana
cultivation and possession for sale were dismissed, said defense attorney
Penny Cooper of Emeryville.

On August 31, a burglar alarm led police to the discovery of hydroponic
growing equipment and 2,000 marijuana plants worth as much as $2 million at
a small warehouse on 29th Street in Oakland.

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