Photo: Covelo
The Round Valley Indian Reservation Tribal Council recently expressed their concern to authorities about non-native persons entering the reservation and setting up marijuana grow operations, some with permission of those on site and some without permission.
These sites include “an increase in gunfire and acts of intimidation.”
A site in the 23000 block of Refuge Road drew particular concern. It was there that 39-year-old Victor Medina was last seen in mid-April. He had been “involved in the marijuana growing operation in that area.”
O May 5 a search warrant was served at that site. Authorities discovered 55 Hoop Houses, also known as green houses, as well as “numerous swimming pools set up to water the marijuana plants, and a great deal of house hold refuse and growing supply waste strewn about.”
22,148 marijuana plants were eradicated. The environmental infractions included “burned household debris, burned vehicles and vehicle tires, as well as chemicals used in the marijuana cultivation.”
The arrested are –
Perrin Hoaglen (69 year-old male from Covelo, CA)
Adrian Silva Farias (24 year-old male from Monroe, WA)
Amanda Garica (36 year-old female from Covelo, CA)
Juan Flores (19 year-old male from Clearlake, CA)
Nayeli Salas (33 year-old female from Madera, CA)
Primitivo Farias (18 year-old male from San Jose, CA)
Victorio Doval (26 year-old male from San Jose, CA)
Juan Cuevas Rubio (21 year-old male from San Jose, CA)
Armondo Ramirez Reyes (21 year-old male from San Jose, CA)
Luis Picazo (23 year-old male from San Jose, CA)
Hoaglen was arrested and charged with conspiracy, and being a felon in possession of ammunition. He was released on no bail “Under the new emergency bail schedule, set by the State of California during the COVID 19 event,.”
Farias was arrested for conspiracy and cultivation of marijuana, and alos released..
The remaining 8 persons were “identified and released.”
Medina remains missing.
