Charges detailed in raid of marijuana operation

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More details have been released about the discovery Aug. 1 of thousands of marijuana plants and a cockfighting ring by the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office.

The early morning raid at the Armsby Lane/Sycamore Avenue marijuana farm followed six days of continuous surveillance by the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Detection and Eradication Team, with the assistance of several deputies usually on patrol duties.

Eight suspects were arrested, including five adults and three male juveniles, all Morgan Hill residents.

Two loaded handguns, a loaded shotgun, about 80 roosters plus related cockfighting paraphernalia were confiscated, and about 5,000 marijuana plants were destroyed.

Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Terrance Helm released the specific charges each of the suspects will face.

• Jose Mendoza, 43, was armed with a loaded handgun as he and two of the juveniles attempted to flee the scene. He was charged with cultivation of marijuana, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

• Rodrigo Pimentel, 37, and Rejellio Farias, 28, were charged with cultivation of marijuana and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony as they also attempted to flee the scene. A loaded handgun was found in the vehicle Pimentel was driving. Pimentel was also charged with child endangerment.

• Julio Garcia, 53, was charged with cultivation of marijuana. He reportedly lived at the address of 14920 Sycamore Ave., west of Morgan Hill, where the farm is located. He leased the property and Helm would not release the name of the property owner, but did say the owner did not know about the marijuana or the cockfighting activities

• The three juveniles arrested, a 12-year-old, a 13-year-old and a 16-year-old, were brothers. Their mother, Braudelia Naranjo, 35, was arrested for child endangerment.

The brothers allegedly worked at the farm, and when deputies moved that Sunday morning, the 16-year-old was found working in what appeared to be a drying shed for the marijuana, with a loaded shotgun on the floor.

In a separate shed on the property, deputies discovered the roosters, several dead roosters, an injured rooster, and items associated with cockfighting, including the spurs handlers strap to their legs, hoods used to cover the roosters’ heads and steroids apparently used to boost the fighting capabilities of the roosters.

http://morganhilltimes.com
By Marilyn Dubil
Tuesday, August 31, 2004
http://morganhilltimes.com/news/newsview.asp?c=121474