LAKEPORT, Calif. – The service of a search warrant by the Sheriff’s Narcotics Unit and Bureau of Land Management Rangers has resulted in one arrest and the eradication of 13,060 marijuana plants. 

On April 4, the Sheriff’s Narcotics Unit was conducting routine overflight operations in Lake County when its members discovered a large scale marijuana cultivation site in the bottom of drainage, on the south fork of Scotts Creek, which is in a remote area west of Lakeport, according to Lt. Steve Brooks.

Brooks said authorities obtained a search warrant for any tent or dwelling located within the cultivation site on the property.

At 7:15 a.m. Monday, June 20, members of the Sheriff’s Narcotics Unit and BLM rangers entered the cultivation site to serve the search warrant, Brooks said.

While conducting surveillance of the cultivation site, they noticed a male subject wearing camouflage.  Brooks said the male subject was walking from the creek bed uphill towards where the deputies and rangers were positioned. 

As the subject continued on the trail towards their location, they were able to take him into custody, according to Brooks.

Brooks said the subject was later identified as 46-year-old Jose Armando Gutierrez-Mardueno of Brentwood.

The deputies and rangers cleared the grow site and a camp they had located that contained two tents and a large amount of food supplies, Brooks said.

Brooks said they noticed that the marijuana was being irrigated using a complex gravity fed drip irrigation system, which was diverting water from a spring.

They located and eradicated approximately 13,060 marijuana plants in four separate plots. The marijuana was described as being mature and in the late flowering stage, Brooks said.

Gutierrez-Mardueno was arrested for the cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale and resisting arrest. Brooks said Gutierrez-Mardueno later was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked.   

Gutierrez-Mardueno's bail was set at $15,000. Jail records indicated he was later released.

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