MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The service of two search warrants by the Lake County Sheriff’s Marijuana Suppression Unit in the Jerusalem Valley area of Middletown last week resulted in 10 felony arrests and the seizure of 296 marijuana plants, 840 pounds of processed marijuana, a semi-automatic assault rifle and nearly $7,000 in US currency for asset forfeiture.
On Oct. 6, detectives secured a search warrant for a large scale outdoor marijuana cultivation operation on Daly Place in Jerusalem Valley after several large marijuana gardens had been observed during an aerial overflight, according to Capt. James Bauman.
On Oct. 11, the Marijuana Suppression Unit executed the warrant with the assistance of the Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force and the Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Detail, Bauman said.
When detectives entered the property, they immediately detained 47-year-old Odalys Angeles Lopez of Middletown and 55-year-old Alfredo Eugenio Fernandez of Castro Valley. Bauman said both subjects were located near a dwelling on the property and Fernandez was found actively processing marijuana at the time.
Detectives located a locked barn on the property, which appeared to be occupied. Upon forcing entry into the barn, detectives located and detained 23-year-old Osvaldo Gamalier Negronaponte, a transient; 27-year-old Pablo Andres Garcia Hernandez of Lower Lake; 19-year-old Rafael Ortiz Chavez of Middletown; and a 17-year-old juvenile transient from Pomona, Bauman said.
He said the barn contained large quantities of processed marijuana and the four men were actively processing more marijuana when detectives entered the structure.
As a search of the property continued, detectives located two large grow sites and a large outdoor marijuana processing “station.” Bauman said the partially harvested grow sites appeared to have been the source of all the processed marijuana found inside of the barn and at the outdoor processing station.
During the search of the Daly Place property, detectives identified another active marijuana cultivation operation on an adjacent property on Jerusalem Grade Road, Bauman said. Upon further investigation of the second cultivation operation, detectives located a garage that also appeared to be occupied.
After announcing their presence, detectives entered the garage and discovered it contained several more subjects actively manicuring large amounts of processed marijuana, he said.
Those detained were 33-year-old Toribio Raygoza Andrade of Kelseyville, 26-year-old Alfonso Hernandez Guzman of Kelseyville, 25-year-old Juan Manuel Raygoza of Kelseyville and 53-year-old Efren Medina Andrade of Kelseyville.
While checking the property for additional suspects, detectives located another structure near the garage that also contained another large quantity of processed marijuana. Bauman said detectives held the Jerusalem Grade property for several hours while a second search warrant was secured for further investigation.
During a search of the dwelling on Daly Place, detectives located a semi-automatic SKS assault rifle with a high-capacity detachable magazine concealed beneath a bed, Bauman said. In that same bedroom, detectives located a briefcase containing $6,967 in US currency and several documents belonging to Odalys Lopez and Alfredo Fernandez.
Bauman said the assault rifle was seized as a banned weapon in California and the currency was seized as the suspected profits of drug trafficking.
When detectives returned with the second search warrant for the property on Jerusalem Grade Road, they located and seized more than 200 marijuana plants and large quantities of processed marijuana from two indoor cultivation operations and another outdoor grow, Bauman said.
Some medical marijuana recommendations were found posted among the grow sites on both properties. However, Bauman said the recommendations were found to be either insufficient for the amount of marijuana located or were not issued to any of the subjects detained on either property.
A total of 10 felony arrests resulted from the 11-hour warrant execution and eradication operation, Bauman said.
He said Lopez was arrested for cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sales, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and possession of an assault weapon. Andrade, Hernandez Guzman, Raygoza, Garcia Hernandez, Fernandez, Negronaponte, Chavez, Medina Andrade, and the 17-year old juvenile were all arrested for cultivation of marijuana and possession of marijuana for sales.
All adult arrestees were booked at the Hill Road Correctional Facility and the juvenile was booked at the Lake County Juvenile Hall, Bauman said. Immigration holds were additionally placed on Andrade, Garcia Hernandez, and Chavez.
Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews, on Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .