Pubdate: Tue, 23 Nov 1999 Source: Press Democrat, The (CA) Copyright: 1999, The Press Democrat Contact: http://www.pressdemo.com/ Forum: http://www.pressdemo.com/opinion/talk/ Author: Andrew LaMar, Press Democrat Staff Writer ARRESTS IN 3-COUNTY POT-GROWING CASE Authorities have arrested three suspects on drug charges and seized $4.5 million worth of marijuana in three separate raids in the past two weeks in Lake, Mendocino and Sonoma counties. But two other suspected commercial pot growers thought to be involved remain at large, detectives said Monday. In all, agents collected 2,430 plants, including 150 from a Santa Rosa home on Erland Drive. "You combine it together, total plant count in all three counties, and the number is significant," said Jeffrey Markham of the Lake County Sheriff's Department. "What really makes it significant is the fact that they were indoors." All the marijuana found was carefully cultivated in hidden, greenhouse-like environments. Detectives uncovered 221 plants on Nov. 12 at a Morgan Valley Road home in Lower Lake. The property owners - Yvan Baumberger and Dominique Baumberger, both 45 - were not home at the time and have yet to be located. At the location, detectives say they also found child pornography in the form of pictures kept on computers and computer disks. The Baumbergers each face charges of cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale, being armed while committing a felony, unauthorized power diversion, injuring electric lines and possession of child pornography. That raid in turn led investigators to two others. On Thursday, authorities searched the Erland Drive home and found one pound of marijuana buds in addition to the 150 plants, and arrested Susan Estes, 32, and Xavier DeCoster, 50, on charges of cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana and being armed while committing a felony. The two have since posted bail. Later Thursday, investigators visited a remote area of Mendocino County's Potter Valley owned by DeCoster and found a "highly sophisticated" pot-growing operation fueled by a hidden generator and disguised as a goat farm, Markham said. Detectives seized 2,059 marijuana plants and a handgun and arrested Tibetan national Sonam Tsering Lama, age unknown, on charges of cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana and being armed while committing a felony. Lama as taken to Mendocino County Jail. On Monday, he was still in jail with bail is set at $10,000. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D