7-year-old educated in meth
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Father, two others arrested in YC bust
December 10, 2008 10:38:00 PM
Eric Vodden/Appeal-Democrat
Local narcotics agents say it isn't all that unusual to find young children unwittingly dragged into the ugly world of gangs and drugs.

But when Mike Hudson, commander of the local Narcotics Enforcement Team, found a 7-year-old boy with an intimate knowledge of methamphetamine-use during a Wednesday morning bust, even he was surprised.

"When kids are exposed to this lifestyle, they often display an uncommon knowledge of drug use for their age," Hudson said. "But this kid left me shaking my head. He actually drew a picture of the meth pipe, where to put your lips on it and where to put the meth in it."

The boy, who was turned over to Sutter County Child Protective Services, was in a home targeted by NET-5 and Sutter County Gang Task Force agents at 7 a.m. in the 900 block of Market Street in Yuba City. Hudson said there was no indication the boy had ever used drugs, but that there was no doubt he was exposed to its use by others.

"A 7-year-old accurately and in detail describing how to smoke meth is bewildering to me," Hudson said. "He seemed like a good, fun-loving kid. But here is another innocent victim of a drug lifestyle."

Agents raided the home and arrested Mauro Valencia-Vega, 30, on charges of possession of meth for sale, maintaining a place for drug sales, possession of drug paraphernalia and child endangerment. An immigration hold was also placed on him.

Hudson said the boy is the son of Valencia-Vega.

Also arrested at the home were Jose Balentin-Ortiz, 33, for possession of drug paraphernalia, and Antonio Garcia-Fonseca, 24, cities of residence not given, for providing false information. An immigration hold was also placed on Garcia-Fonseca.
Valencia-Vega and Garcia-Fonseca were booked at Sutter County Jail while Balentin-Ortiz was cited and released at the scene, Hudson said.

Hudson said Garcia-Fonseca and Balentin-Ortiz are Sureño gang members.
"This investigation is yet another example of the well-established connection between gang members and drug trafficking," he said.

Agents, armed with a search warrant, forced their way into the home and found .5 ounces of methamphetamine; drug sales paraphernalia, including a gram scale and packaging material; a glass meth pipe, a surveillance camera and monitor, a police scanner and more than $300 in drug proceeds, Hudson said.


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