WILLITS – Two men living in the forest southeast of Willits, in the hills east of Highway 101 and north of Redwood Valley in inland Mendocino County, were arrested last week for running a large scale marijuana operation out of the house.
The property was located further up Bear Canyon Road in the woods outside of Willits.
According to the Mendocino Sheriff’s Office, deputies associated with the county’s Marijuana Eradication Team, agents from the Mendocino Major Crimes Task Force, and Sheriff’s patrol deputies served a search warrant at 4775 Bear Canyon Road for the house and property on Tuesday, March 3. Despite the remote location, in an area where illegal growers often cultivate marijuana in the wilderness, the team found a large scale growing operation that was set up inside the house.
They located 489 marijuana plants and 110 pounds of processed marijuana packaged for sale. Also on site was a scale and other tools for marijuana cultivation, along with $3,000 cash.
Jacob Allen Kiesel, 34, and John Clayton Quincy Rardon, 35, were both arrested at the location, and charged with possession of marijuana for sale, and cultivation of marijuana. Jacob Kiesel appears to be the brother of Riley Kiesel, who was arrested last month in the town of Mendocino on charges of marijuana cultivation and outstanding warrants.
