Graton pot grower ordered to pay $102,000 to landlord

A Graton man was ordered Tuesday to pay $102,000 to a former landlord for extensive damage he caused to a rental house with his illegal marijuana-growing operation, prosecutors said.

Allen Sternik, 56, was ordered to pay the restitution by Judge Julie Conger as part of a plea agreement. He pleaded no contest in April to felony drug charges.

Sternik, who rented the house more than 10 years, was found to be growing pot inside without the landlord’s permission, prosecutors said.

Damage included black mold on the walls, ruined carpeting, large electrical panels mounted in the bedrooms that had to be removed and boards nailed to the ceiling for hanging plants, prosecutors said.

In addition, holes had been cut in the walls to ventilate heat caused by growing lights, and air ducts had been disconnected, allowing animals to crawl inside and fill them with waste, prosecutors said.

Sternik also failed to notify the landlords of roof damage, apparently to avoid being discovered as a marijuana grower, allowing water to leak into the building to cause more damage, prosecutors said.

You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @ppayne.