Woman sentenced for growing pot

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A judge has sentenced a 36-year-old Puna woman to 60 days in jail and five years probation for growing marijuana.

A judge has sentenced a 36-year-old Puna woman to 60 days in jail and five years probation for growing marijuana.

On Tuesday, Hilo Circuit Judge Glenn Hara rejected a request by Shonna Lee Soares of Hawaiian Paradise Park to defer her guilty plea to one count of first-degree promotion of a detrimental drug and also denied her request to delay serving her jail sentence until after the holidays. In addition, she was ordered to pay a $1,000 drug demand reduction fee and to forfeit all firearms and ammunition,

On Aug. 1, police executed a search warrant on real property occupied by Soares and found 69 marijuana plants. Additional marijuana plants were found on vacant lots adjoining her property.

Officers also seized seven unregistered firearms from the premises. Also seized for forfeiture was $5,000 in cash, a 2006 Ford F-350 truck, a 2007 Kawasaki Mule utility vehicle and 2000 Harley Davidson replica motorcycle.

First-degree promotion of a detrimental drug is a Class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.