yumasun.com
BY JAMES GILBERT - SUN STAFF WRITER
January 17, 2012 5:28 PM

Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents arrested two sex offenders and seized 1,082 pounds of marijuana over the holiday weekend.

On Monday, Blythe Station agents patrolling on Interstate 40 near Kingman stopped a suspicious vehicle. One of the occupants, Joel Mendoza-Valdovinos, a Mexican national illegally present in the United States, was found to have an active felony warrant issued by the San Jose, Calif., Police Department.

Mendoza-Valdovinos was alleged to have committed lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14, with force, and forcible spousal rape. He was turned over to the Riverside County Sheriff's Office.

Later the same day, Blythe Station agents were contacted by a Arizona Department of Public Safety officer about a possible illegal alien in custody. Agents were dispatched and arrested Jesus Manuel Hernandez-Franco for being illegally present in the United States.

A records check revealed Hernandez had been charged and convicted of corporal injury to spouse, as well as lewd and lascivious acts with a minor by a caretaker. Hernandez was previously deported and is being criminally prosecuted for re-entry into the U.S.

On Friday, Yuma Station agents were patrolling near County 8th Street and the Colorado River when they observed a suspicious person riding an all-terrain vehicle under cover of darkness. As agents approached the suspect, he turned the ATV around and sped away back toward Mexico.

Agents found the ATV abandoned at the river's edge and discovered it was loaded with more than 154 pounds of marijuana, which had an estimated street value of $77,380. The ATV and marijuana were turned over to the Yuma County Narcotics Task Force.

Early morning Saturday, Wellton Station agents patrolling near Sentinel south of the interstate discovered six abandoned burlap backpacks filled with 300 pounds of marijuana. Agents searched the area but did not find any suspects. The marijuana, worth $150,300, was seized for destruction.

Later the same morning, Wellton Station agents patrolling south of Gila Bend observed three individuals walking through the desert. Agents responded to the area and apprehended the individuals, who turned out to be carrying large backpacks filled with marijuana. The suspects and marijuana, weighing 268 pounds and valued at $134,070, were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

On Saturday evening, Wellton Station agents patrolling 11 miles south of Gila Bend observed six more individuals walking through the desert. Agents approached the group and found them to be in possession of 360 pounds of marijuana valued at $180,115. The suspects were turned over to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.

James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.

Read more: Agents nab sex offender suspects, marijuana, agents, marijuana, station - News - YumaSun