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Man Built Makeshift Home, Grew Pot In SoCal Wildlife Sanctuary

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Deputies have arrested a man for building a makeshift house and growing marijuana in a Southern California wildlife area.

Los Angeles County sheriff's investigators say the crude structure in a remote section of the Tujunga Ponds Wildlife Sanctuary includes bund beds and a rock patio, barbecue and tables. Eight pot plants were growing nearby.

Deputies on Monday arrested 51-year-old Robert Downs, who says he began building the structure eight months ago.

He is in jail where he was booked for investigation of marijuana cultivation and removing plants and trees from a county park. Bail is set at $30,000.

The structure will be torn down in the next two weeks.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

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