Written by Lake County News reports
Friday, 21 October 2011
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.â€