Photo: aerial view of grow site
The Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office uncovered an illegal marijuana grow site in this story on their Official Facebook page –
“On July 28th, 2020 the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office Marijuana Enforcement Unit served a search warrant at an illegal marijuana cultivation site on a parcel with no assigned address in the area of Lucky Jim Mine Road and Whiskey Slide Road in Mountain Ranch.
The grow site was in a secluded area not accessible by vehicles. Deputies located and seized 659 growing marijuana plants and approximately 50 pounds of processed marijuana with an estimated value exceeding $496,000.
No suspects were contacted at the scene; however, the investigation is ongoing.
On July 30th, 2020, the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office Marijuana Enforcement Unit served a search warrant at an illegal marijuana cultivation site in the 500 block of Pinon Drive in Copperopolis.
Deputies seized 740 growing marijuana plants and 5 pounds of processed marijuana with an estimated value exceeding $518,000.
In addition, 4 firearms were seized. Calaveras County Code Enforcement was called out to the scene to address code violations.
Three suspects were contacted at the scene. Alexander Garcia Bailon, age 18 of Copperopolis, and Samuel Pacheco, age 20 of Copperopolis, were booked into the Calaveras County Jail. Jeffrey Goodpasture, age 68, was issued a citation.
All three suspects were charged with 11358 H&S Illegal Marijuana Cultivation, 11359 H&S Possession of Marijuana for Sale, 11366 H&S Maintaining a Premises for Selling Controlled Substances, and 182 PC Conspiracy to Commit Crime. The investigation is ongoing. Both Bailon and Pacheco had a bail of $150,000.00.
Also on July 30th, 2020, an unrelated search warrant was served at a site in the 4000 block of Rocky Road in San Andreas. Deputies seized 496 growing marijuana plants and 85 pounds of processed marijuana with an estimated value exceeding $347,000. No suspects were located at the site. The investigation is ongoing.
Additionally, on July 30th, 2020 an unrelated search warrant was served at a site in the 9000 block of Story Road, in Mountain Ranch. Deputies seized 141 growing marijuana plants and over 9 pounds of processed marijuana with an estimated value exceeding $107,000. In addition, one firearm was seized. One suspect was contacted at the scene and placed under arrest.
Brian Foster, age 52 of Fernley, Nevada, was booked into the Calaveras County Jail on charges of 11358 H&S Illegal Marijuana Cultivation, 11359 H&S Possession of Marijuana for Sale, 11366 H&S Maintaining a Premises for Selling Controlled Substances, 182 PC Conspiracy to Commit Crime, and 29800 PC Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Foster’s bail was set at $175,000.00.
On July 31st, 2020 a search warrant was served on a parcel with no assigned address off Camp Nine Road in Vallecito. Deputies seized 787 growing marijuana plants with an estimated value exceeding $550,000. No suspects were located at the site, however, the investigation is ongoing.
The Calaveras Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone with knowledge of illegal marijuana operations to call the Sheriff’s Office Anonymous Marijuana Tip Line at (209) 754-6870.”
