UPPER LAKE – An Upper Lake couple were arrested as part of a Mendocino County Sheriff's Office investigation that was partially conducted in Lake County.

Arrested were 55-year-old Billy Rainer and Connie Harp'Rainer, 58, according to the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office.

On Thursday shortly before 1 a.m. Mendocino County Sheriffs Deputy Tom Davis was conducting a business check in the Carousel Industrial/Storage complex located on North State Street, which had been the site for several commercial burglaries.

Deputy Davis drove adjacent the storage units when he observed two vehicles parked next to the storage sheds with their lights on.

The agency reported that Davis made contact with three subjects who were in and around the two vehicles: Linsi Manning, 33, of Encinitas; Brian Reese, 32, of Willits; and Boden Wood, 27, of Newport.

Davis asked them what they were doing near the closed businesses and locked storage sheds. They advised Davis they were lost while attempting to locate a road to Lake County, according to the report. During the contact Davis smelled a very strong odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicles.

Davis, along with other deputies, conducted a search of the two vehicles which revealed approximately 104 pounds of processed marijuana with some being packaged for sale. They further recovered approximately $70,000 dollars in US currency they allegedly found in a vehicle belonging to Manning.

Deputies arrested Manning, Reese and Wood and transported them to the Mendocino County Jail where they were booked on charges of possession for marijuana for sale and transportation of marijuana. Their bail was set at $50,000.

The Major Crimes Task Force was then contacted and continued the investigation.

A search warrant was granted which led Mendocino County Sheriff's deputies along with Lake County Sheriff's deputies and the Major Crimes Task Force to the Rainers' Upper Lake home.

Deputies conducted a search of the residence and property, locating approximately 70 marijuana plants and some processed marijuana. They further discovered approximately $250,000 dollars in US currency, and agents seized a newer John Deer tractor, two new all-terrain vehicles, two jet skis and a pickup.

Both Rainers were booked into the Lake County Jail on charges of marijuana cultivation and sales along with possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

During the investigation, deputies also searched the nearby home of marijuana activist Charles “Eddy” Lepp, according to a statement from Lepp's ministry.

The search took place at about 10 a.m., with deputies placing Lepp and everyone at the residence in handcuffs and detaining them while the property was searched. Lepp and his supporters allege that no search warrant was served and that officials would not answer any of their questions.

According to Lepp's statement, deputies took two hours to photograph and go through the property of himself and four others before they were released. No one was arrested.

Lepp is due to be sentenced on Monday in a federal marijuana case.