Pot Grower Gets 60 Days, Forfeits Cash and Vehicles

A 36-year-old Puna woman was sentenced today to 60 days in jail for growing marijuana.

Shonna Soares must also serve five years of probation and pay a $1,000 fine after pleading guilty to promoting a detrimental drug in the first degree.

The crime is a class “C” felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

According to Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Ricky Roy Damerville, Third Circuit Judge Glenn Hara denied a request from Soares to defer the guilty plea. Hara also denied her request to delay serving the jail term until after the holidays.

The case stems from the Aug. 1, 2011 execution of a search warrant on Soares’ property on which police found 69 marijuana plants. Additional marijuana plants were found on vacant lots adjoining her property, Damerville said.

Police found seven unregistered firearms as well as ammunition on the premises. Hara ordered that the firearms and ammunition be forfeited.

As a result of the investigation, police also seized $5,000 in cash, a variety of vehicles and two large televisions, all of which were forfeited to the state in a separate administrative proceeding. The vehicles were a 2006 Ford F-350 truck, a 2007 Kawasaki Mule and a 2000 Harley Davidson Replica motorcycle.