Father-son pot growers raided

by F. Scott Faulkner , April 20, 2011

Packaged marijuana was found at the home of a Goleta father and son April 13.

GOLETA – Santa Barbara County sheriff’s authorities arrested a father and son last week at their Goleta home, site of a full-scale marijuana cultivation and sales operation.

According to sheriff’s spokesman Drew Sugars, deputies arrived at the home of Ted Munoz and his son Luis just before noon on April 13 to serve an arrest warrant for the younger Munoz on unrelated charges when they heard two male voices inside the house discussing financial details of specific narcotics sales.

“At that time officers could smell the overwhelming aroma of marijuana coming out of the house,” Sugars told reporters. “They also observed a number of things in a side yard pointing to a marijuana grow inside the house.”

At that time, deputies delayed their service of the arrest warrant on Luis Munoz, 20, and summoned assistance from additional sheriff’s units. With backup deputies on scene and narcotics detectives securing the premises, contact with Ted Munoz, 48, was made to inform him of the arrest warrant for his son.

Once inside the residence, officers discovered a significant marijuana growing operation, including posted retail pricing information, significant agricultural equipment and 10 pounds of packaged marijuana.

Father and son were both booked into Santa Barbara County jail on charges of illegal cultivation and sales of marijuana and criminal conspiracy, and are currently held on $100,000 bail each.