4 Arrested in Drug, Child Endangerment Charges

According to the report, Ricardo Nunez, 19, of Strathmore, reportedly pointed a gun at the mother of his three children ranging in age from five months to one year during an argument of visitation rights and custody arrangements.

During the investigation, deputies located a large outdoor marijuana grow site and stolen vehicle chop shop at the property. The majority of the estimated 400+ plants had been previously harvested and deputies pulled fifty (50) mature marijuana plants, located approximately ninety (90) pounds of fully processed marijuana packaged for sale, scales, narcotic packaging materials, methamphetamine packaged for sale, two loaded firearms, a stolen vehicle and numerous additional stolen vehicle parts.

Deputies located five children between the ages of five months to seven years living in deplorable conditions within the residence and as a result of the living conditions and illegal activity, all five children were removed from the residence and placed in foster care by Child Welfare Services.

Arrested were Ricardo Nunez, Natividad Nunez, 44, Benjamin Valdez, 28 and Pedro Villalobos, 30.

The four were arrested on charges including child endangerment, cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale, possession of methamphetamine for sale, possession of a firearm while committing a felony, possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of stolen vehicle parts, operating a stolen vehicle chop shop and maintaining a location for unlawful activities.

This case is under active investigation by the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department and California Highway Patrol.

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Tulare County Sheriff: Report