December 9, 2000

By LAURA CASEY THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Two South Bay men were booked into Sonoma County Jail on Friday after being caught with close to $10,000 worth of abalone meat poached from Sonoma coast waters, according to the state Department of Fish and Game.

Santa Cruz resident Joel Roberts, 37, and Capitola resident John Funkey, 28, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy in taking abalone for commercial purposes, Fish and Game spokesman Steve Martarano said.

They were booked on 11 other charges, including diving for abalone off-season, diving at night and using scuba gear to fish for abalone.

Martarano said Fish and Game wardens followed the pair for several days as they took abalone from the Sonoma Coast.

When they were arrested in San Francisco, wardens found 129 abalone in their possession, Martarano said. They suspect the abalone was being sold in San Francisco, Sonoma and Santa Cruz counties.

Abalone is scarce and sells for as much as $80 each on the black market.

The abalone season ended Nov. 30, and the legal limit for a diver during abalone season is four per day.

Roberts and Funkey face a maximum of three years in jail and a $60,000 fine if convicted.

Martarano said the investigation is continuing and there could be additional arrests.