LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – This week, following the service of search warrants, Lake County Sheriff's detectives – assisting the US Marshal's Service – took a Florida man wanted on a fugitive warrant into custody, and also arrested a Lucerne man.
Nathan Lee Steffen, 35, of Fort Meyers, Fla., and 31-year-old Charles Daniel Wilson of Lucerne were arrested on Thursday, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Brooks said that on Monday, the Lake County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit was contacted by officials with the United States Marshal’s Service, who asked if the sheriff’s office would assist them with the service of a felony justice warrant on Steffen.
The deputy marshals and Lake County Sheriff's detectives were in constant communication while tracking the fugitive, who was eventually located in Lucerne, Brooks said.
On Thursday, detectives secured a search warrant for a residence in the 6000 block of 14th Avenue in Lucerne where Steffen was believed to be hiding, according to Brooks.
At 12:30 a.m. Thursday, while detectives were en route to serve the warrant, the fugitive entered a vehicle, which left the residence as detectives arrived, Brooks said.
Brooks said the Lake County Sheriff’s Narcotic Task Force, along with the Major Crimes Unit detectives, conducted an enforcement stop of the vehicle and took Steffen into custody.
Inside the vehicle detectives located a US Postal Box, which was addressed to an individual in Tampa. Steffen told detectives that the box contained between four and five ounces of marijuana, Brooks said.
When asked why he was sending marijuana back to Florida, Steffen told detectives he was just trying to pay his bills. Brooks said Steffen also told detectives that he was on his way to the post office to mail the box of marijuana when he was pulled over.
During the investigation, detectives were able to locate a large residential marijuana grow at the residence, which was secured until another search warrant could be obtained. At approximately 2 p.m. detectives secured the second search warrant and served it at the 14th Avenue address, Brooks said.
When detectives entered the residence, Brooks said they located and detained Wilson, who admitted to cultivating 10 marijuana plants located in the yard.
During the search detectives located 15 marijuana plants growing outside. Brooks said they also located 60 mature marijuana plants growing inside the garage.
When detectives asked Wilson about the indoor grow, he told them he wanted to talk to his attorney, according to Brooks.
Brooks said approximately 63 ounces of processed marijuana was located inside the residence in several different areas. All of the processed marijuana and the marijuana plants were seized as evidence.
Steffen was arrested for possession of marijuana for sales, the cultivation of marijuana and his out-of-state warrant, Brooks said, while Wilson was arrested for possession of marijuana for sales and the cultivation of marijuana.
Both Steffen and Wilson were transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked, Brooks said.
The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be contacted through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.