West Point, CA..On 10/12/2017 at approximately 0930 hours, Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office deputies served a search warrant on a property located on the 3000 block of Bald Mountain Road. A large marijuana grow had been discovered at the location and investigators found that this property was not registered with Calaveras County as an authorized commercial medical cannabis cultivation site.

When deputies arrived at the property to serve the search warrant, a large outdoor marijuana grow was located. While on the property, deputies discovered evidence that the neighboring property also had two outdoor marijuana grows that were connected to the original case. Some of this evidence included waterlines and electrical extension cords connecting the two properties. Once this evidence was discovered, another search warrant was obtained to allow deputies to further investigate the other adjoining marijuana grows.

During a search of the property, deputies also discovered the occupant’s septic system was discharging waste and sewage above ground. Also, it appears that the residents were using a farming practice that involved the use of human feces in the soil surrounding plants and vegetables.

Deputies seized 445 marijuana plants and 60 pounds of processed marijuana.
While at the location, deputies contacted two subjects from Sacramento: De Rong Zhang (63) and Sishou Zheng (42) and subsequently arrested both for 11358(d)(3)(e) H&S illegal marijuana cultivation while violating 374.8 PC-knowingly discharging hazardous substances upon the land of another without the permission of the owner; which makes this cultivation a felony. Both subjects are being held in the Calaveras County Jail on $30,000 bail.