FruityBud
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Felony convictions, probation, and spending 60 days in Mendocino County Jail was probably not part of their plans when four men met on MySpace and decided to move to Mendocino County to grow marijuana. Had they not called PG&E to help them bypass their electrical meter it is likely their "get rich quick" plans would have worked out.
Agents from the Mendocino Major Crimes Task Force arrested three men and a fourth escaped in May from the 46000 block of Foxrock Road grow in Laytonville. PG&E contacted the Mendocino County sheriff's office when a technician became suspicious that a meter bypass was being installed by residents, according to police reports. PG&E had been asked to turn power off to the residence to allow the homeowner to do some electrical work.
Agents got a search warrant for the grow house and arrested Michael Anthony Wade, 19, of Stockton, Travis James Wood, 21, of Garberville; and Christopher Scott Bartman , 23, of Benicia, on suspicion of cultivation and possession of marijuana for sale, bypassing a utility meter to steal electricity and possession of a firearm in the commission of a crime. Police are still looking for a fourth man, Marcus Deral McKinney, 35, of Benicia, suspected of taking part in the enterprise. An arrest warrant was issued for McKinney, a parolee, who escaped on foot when the search warrant was served.
The trio pleaded guilty to a felony conspiracy charge and were sentenced by Superior Court Judge Leonard LaCasse. The original charges were dropped as part of a plea deal with the Mendocino County District Attorney's office.
At the residence agents found about 4,000 marijuana clones, 25 pounds of processed bud marijuana, a hashish manufacturing operation and a loaded 9mm handgun. From evidence at the location agents estimated the operation had been going on for at least two years. The PG&E bills were about $3,000 per month.
"The individuals met on the social networking site MySpace," says Deputy District Attorney Brian Newman. "After several virtual meetings they traveled to Mendocino County to get started in the trade of harvesting and processing marijuana."
McKinney is still at large.
hxxp://tinyurl.com/y9eehrz
Agents from the Mendocino Major Crimes Task Force arrested three men and a fourth escaped in May from the 46000 block of Foxrock Road grow in Laytonville. PG&E contacted the Mendocino County sheriff's office when a technician became suspicious that a meter bypass was being installed by residents, according to police reports. PG&E had been asked to turn power off to the residence to allow the homeowner to do some electrical work.
Agents got a search warrant for the grow house and arrested Michael Anthony Wade, 19, of Stockton, Travis James Wood, 21, of Garberville; and Christopher Scott Bartman , 23, of Benicia, on suspicion of cultivation and possession of marijuana for sale, bypassing a utility meter to steal electricity and possession of a firearm in the commission of a crime. Police are still looking for a fourth man, Marcus Deral McKinney, 35, of Benicia, suspected of taking part in the enterprise. An arrest warrant was issued for McKinney, a parolee, who escaped on foot when the search warrant was served.
The trio pleaded guilty to a felony conspiracy charge and were sentenced by Superior Court Judge Leonard LaCasse. The original charges were dropped as part of a plea deal with the Mendocino County District Attorney's office.
At the residence agents found about 4,000 marijuana clones, 25 pounds of processed bud marijuana, a hashish manufacturing operation and a loaded 9mm handgun. From evidence at the location agents estimated the operation had been going on for at least two years. The PG&E bills were about $3,000 per month.
"The individuals met on the social networking site MySpace," says Deputy District Attorney Brian Newman. "After several virtual meetings they traveled to Mendocino County to get started in the trade of harvesting and processing marijuana."
McKinney is still at large.
hxxp://tinyurl.com/y9eehrz
