AURORA (CBS) — A 23-year-old man who did not want his marijuana plants to get cold during the weekend’s cool weather set two latenight bonfires in the backyard of his home, leading authorities right to the illegal plants, police said.

An Aurora police officer on routine patrol saw two large bonfires burning in the backyard of Daniel A. Selmon’s home in the 800 block of Robert Street in Aurora about 2:45 a.m. Saturday, a release from police said.

When the officer went to investigate, he saw what appeared to be three large marijuana plants growing in a corner of the yard.

He later learned that Selmon set the bonfires in an attempt to keep the plants warm since the nights were getting colder.

Police took the plants, which weighed about 6.5 pounds, and charged Selmon with felony possession of cannabis and misdemeanor production of cannabis.

Police did not know the street value of the marijuana.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2012. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)