Batavia teen accused of cutting down wild pot plants

A Batavia 17-year-old was charged with felony marijuana possession over the weekend after Geneva police caught him with a backpack full of pot plants he apparently had cut down after finding them growing in the wild.

The teen is charged with the manufacture/delivery of marijuana, possession of marijuana and trespassing, according to police and court records.

The most serious charge carries a top prison term of five years, but probation also is an option.

Geneva Police Cmdr. Julie Nash said police were called to an area near a bridge on the 500 block of Randall Road at about 7:30 p.m. Sunday because a resident had spotted an unattended bicycle there. The officer later found the Batavia teen in the area with a knife and several plants inside a backpack.

“He cut down the plants. He knew about that area,” Nash said of the teen, adding the marijuana patch has since been destroyed.

Nash could not specify the exact amount of pot the teen is accused of having, but said it was more than what would be considered for personal use. The boy is not charged with planting and actively cultivating the marijuana. He was released on his own recognizance Monday afternoon; his next court date was not immediately clear.