ALBANY — A decorated former state University at Albany campus police officer was spared prison time Monday for her role in the growing of more than 100 marijuana plants on her Duanesburg property.

Wendy Knoebel, 49, received five months of home confinement and three years probation at her sentencing before Senior U.S. District Court Judge Frederick Scullin. She also must perform 50 hours of community service for her Dec. 9 guilty plea to conspiring to manufacture marijuana.

The judge dipped below a potential sentence that would have sent Knoebel to prison for one year and four months. If convicted at trial, she faced five years behind bars.

"I regret everything and I apologize," Knoebel told the judge, while sitting next to her attorney, Dennis B. Schlenker. She apologized to the court, her relatives, her 12-year-old daughter, the state of New York, co-workers and her husband.

Her spouse, Kenneth Knoebel, who was in the courtroom, pleaded guilty in December to the same charge as his wife.

Schlenker told the judge that Wendy Knoebel played a passive role in the couple's marijuana growing operation — an argument the prosecution did not dispute. Schlenker acknowledged that the former officer should have known better, but said she is moving on. He highlighted Wendy Knoebel's successful career in law enforcement, which ended when she resigned from her job at the University at Albany on March 7.

"She made a tragic mistake," Schlenker said, arguing that Wendy Knoebel is needed at home to take care of her daughter. "A sentence of incarceration in this case would be a monumental injustice, not just for Wendy Knoebel but society as well."

In a presentencing letter to the judge, Schlenker stated Kenneth Knoebel had been growing marijuana illegally.

"This activity, Ms. Knoebel felt powerless to stop, and despite the fact that she was a police officer," the lawyer wrote. "She was torn between the dictates of her law enforcement position and an untenable family situation."

On May 16, 2011, investigators raided the Knoebels' home on Suits Road. They seized the pot plants from a pole barn, equipment used for the operation and a small amount of marijuana in the Knoebels' bedroom, kitchen and bathroom. A workout schedule — in Wendy Knoebel's name — was found in a bag with the words "grow room" on it. On the floor of the pole barn was a written contract for radiant heat in the name of Kenneth Knoebel, court papers show.

Wendy Knoebel became a SUNY police officer in 1991. She later moved to Tennessee, where she also worked as a police officer. In 1995, she was assigned to the University at Albany campus. She was later named the department's first female investigator.

On Monday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Hanlon said Wendy Knoebel's successful career in law enforcement "makes this all more mysterious." Hanlon said the ex-officer provided substantial assistance to the investigation. He said he feels bad, but added "This is not a small (pot-growing) operation."

Scullin told Wendy Knoebel he understands she had a great career in law enforcement, but that she took "certain liberties" which have hurt her reputation as a former police officer and mother.

"You should have known better," the judge said. "You didn't do the right thing here. To subject your family to that ... inexcusable. You'll have to live with that."

The judge made it clear that Wendy Knoebel — and her husband — will not be given any leniency if they skate on the wrong side of the law again. Scullin told the former officer, "If you have to do something in respect to your marital situation to make this work, you have to do it. There's no room for error."

Wendy Knoebel walked out of the courthouse with her husband, who will be sentenced by Scullin on May 22.

rgavin@timesunion.com • 518-434-2403 • @RobertGavinTU