Pot plants seized near Lake Sonoma

By BOB NORBERG
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Tuesday, May 5, 2009 at 7:26 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, May 5, 2009 at 7:26 a.m.

Sheriff’s narcotic officers on Monday raided a large-scale marijuana-growing operation in a remote area near Lake Sonoma, arresting three people and taking 3,500 pot plants.

The operation was 15 miles west of Lake Sonoma, where the hills had been terraced, hot houses constructed, a spring tapped for water, traps set to catch small animals and three tents set up, said sheriff’s Sgt. Kevin Young.

“The detectives were able to sneak up on three tents and each was occupied by a Mexican national,â€