Millions in fines possible at raided Fresno County pot grows

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- Two raids at Fresno County marijuana fields could lead to huge penalties for the landowners under a new county law.

"We're looking at potentially hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars in fines," said Sgt. Homer Montalvo.

Four people were arrested, including three who deputies believe were trespassing at a place that was raided just a month ago.

Marijuana plants dot the hills of this Watts Valley property, small plants far from maturity. Sheriff's deputies tore out more than 1000 plants here in June, but couldn't find the growers.

This time around, they caught three men tending to the plants and the somewhat sophisticated watering system used to keep the plants healthy as they move from starter pots into the ground.

What they did at this grow is they hooked a generator up to the water well, they set up some water lines, and they lead right up to their crops on this land on which they're trespassing.

Drip irrigation by pot growers is becoming a big problem for neighbors in this time of severe drought.

"We have had several people tell us their wells have gone dry after marijuana growing has started occurring next door to them," Sgt. Montalvo said.

An hour's drive away, deputies raided another field with thousands of plants not-so-well hidden by an otherwise legitimate crop of bitter melon.

"The fruit here has already turned orange and is clearly rotting away," said Montalvo. "The intent here is just to shield the marijuana from being seen."

Deputies arrested a man they believe leased the land and grew the pot. Both he and the landowner could have to pay a huge penalty for the grow.

A county ordinance passed this year means both can be fined $1000 per plant. That's about $3 million in fines piled up between the rows of melon.

"At this point, we hope the ordinance and the fines, liens on properties help deter, we hope, the criminal element," Montalvo said.

There is a legal challenge to the county ordinance in the courts right now and previous penalties have been put on hold. But deputies say they've worked out some kinks in their process and the fines will now stick.