September 8, 2016 – On September 8th, 2016, at approximately 7:30 AM, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Task Force, along with Cal Fire and Fish and Wildlife executed a criminal marijuana search warrant at the end of Farrell Ravine Road, located in the North San Juan area. Once on scene, officers contacted and detained two Hispanic male adults residing on the property who were identified as Jose Rosales (51) and Pedro Villa (51), both out of the Modesto area.
During the search of the property, detectives located 1002 marijuana plants under cultivation, several tents, an outdoor kitchen facility, an approximate 5000 gallon manmade plastic lined pond, and a 1600 gallon water tank. During the investigation, it was determined that the subjects responsible for the marijuana under cultivation had built dams to divert water from Spring Creek, which is a viable Rainbow Trout habitat. This creek was located directly below the cultivation site. Game Wardens located the two separate dammed areas with water pumps and water lines leading to the man-made pond and water tank.
Rosales and Villa claimed to have been brought to the location from Modesto after meeting another Hispanic male at Home Depot for work. Both Rosales and Villa were taken into custody for the illegal cultivation of marijuana. A third person was located on an adjacent property and was identified as Mark Firestone (37), a transient from N. San Juan. Firestone was taken into custody on an outstanding felony warrant for a PRCS violation.
Through our investigation it was determined that the marijuana was being illegally cultivated on the property and the 1002 plants were eradicated. Fish and Wildlife will also be filling charges against the responsible parties for the illegal diversion of the waterway.
Once again….Great work! So tired of illegal marijuana grows. I am in favor for the growing of this marvelous resource but in a responsible manner and without harming the planet we live on. NO ON 64! Legalization of this plant needs to benefit all Californians, Proposition 64 does not benefit all of us. Read all 62 pages before you vote and make an informed decision.
Is this the new “American Greed?”
Glad these carpetbagging knuckleheads got caught. These old school guerilla grows have got to be stopped. As a footnote: this is one of the shabbiest grows I’ve ever seen! All that criminal land-ravaging for naught.