On Wednesday, July 7, 2021, the San Bernardino County Marijuana Enforcement Team, with deputies from the Victor Valley station, served six search warrants at outdoor marijuana grows netting over 5000 marijuana plants and almost 50 pounds of processed marijuana.
The Marijuana Enforcement Team and Victor Valley station deputies began serving search warrants at 7:00 am on Wednesday. They served six warrants at six different locations within the Phelan and Pinon Hills area. The search warrants were a result of numerous complaints filed about large outdoor grows in the area. Sheriff’s Department personnel located and arrested eight suspects. The suspects’ names are John McCandless, 67, of Phelan; Rosalinda Sanchez, 51, of Pinon Hills; Geovani Rosales, 26, of Mexico; Jose Corona, 35, of Mexico; Henry Kolter, 71, of Phelan; Juan Renteria, 29 of San Bernardin; Alfonso Villasenor, 21, of San Bernardino; and Pablo Arreola, 38 of Pinon Hills. The suspects were cited on charges of Cultivation of Cannabis; over six plants.
Investigators seized 5,043 marijuana plants and 48 pounds of processed marijuana from the various grows located at the 6900 block of Buckthorne Road; the 12200 block of Mountain Road; near Golden View and Bear Valley Road; the 12900 block of Amarillo Road; near La Mesa Road and Oasis Road and Oasis Road and Palmdale Road. The value of the processed marijuana totals almost $50k and the seized marijuana plants had the potential to produce over $5 million of cultivated marijuana.
It was determined that the cannabis cultivation was not in compliance with California’s Medical and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA) and San Bernardino County’s ordinance prohibiting Commercial Cannabis Activity. San Bernardino County has a law prohibiting Commercial Cannabis Activity, which includes growing marijuana plants outdoors.
The Sheriff’s Gangs/Narcotics Division will continue to enforce California’s cannabis laws and San Bernardino County’s cannabis cultivation and distribution ordinance. Persons found guilty of violating the State law and county ordinance are subject to fines, prosecution, and seizure of property.
Property owners who are growing marijuana or are aware their tenants are growing marijuana on their properties violate the state law and local ordinances; they may also be subject to civil or criminal sanctions. Property owners are encouraged to contact their local law enforcement or code compliance agency to confirm if cultivating cannabis is prohibited or allowed under specific regulations.
To report possible illegal marijuana grows or activities, call the CalCannabis tip line at 1-833-933-3847 (1-833-WEED-TIP) and the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-782-7463 (1-800-78-CRIME) or leave information at www.wetip.com.
Additionally, call the Sheriff’s Gangs/Narcotics Division at 1-909-387-8400 or email NARC-MET@sbcsd.org and let the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors know by emailing the San Bernardino County Clerk of the Board at COB@sbcounty.gov. Residents can also speak to the supervisors during their board meetings. This can be done in person or virtually at one of the county’s several government centers. Visit sbcounty.gov/main/pages/BOS for more information.
Residents can also report suspected violations to Code Enforcement via their website at sbcountylus.force.com/lus/servicetypes.
The Phelan Pinon Hills Community Services Department is hosting a Town Hall on the topic of “Community Safety.” Representatives from the County, State, and Federal Government will be attending. The Town Hall will take place on Saturday, July 10, 2021, at 9:30 am in Phelan Community Park, located at 4176 Warbler Road in Phelan. Visit www.pphcsd.org for more information. Residents are encouraged to email questions for their representatives to townhall@pphcsd.org.
