Pubdate: Thu, 14 Oct 1999 Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA) Copyright: 1999 San Francisco Chronicle Contact: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/ Forum: http://www.sfgate.com/conferences/ 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. (c)1999 San Francisco Chronicle Page C14 - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D