Valley Springs, CA…On 12/5/2019, the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office Marijuana Enforcement Unit served a search warrant for illegal marijuana cultivation on an address located in the 2000 block of South Ranchero Road in Valley Springs. As Deputies entered the residence, they immediately noticed the strong smell of engine exhaust. The exhaust (and associated carbon monoxide) was being created by a 7000-watt generator, which had been placed into a center room and was running. Deputies encountered a non-compliant adult male who was taken into custody. They also located an adult female who was partially coherent in a bedroom adjacent to the running generator.

Medics were immediately called to the scene due to potential carbon monoxide exposure of both people. Both received treatment at the scene however, the female was transported to a local hospital for additional medical attention.

Extreme mold and electrical hazards were found throughout the residence. The residence was equipped with a commercial electrical supply as well as solar power; the generator was being used to power a portion of grow lights.

After the residence was made safe to enter, Deputies located and seized 2,527 growing marijuana plants and 8.32 pounds of processed marijuana. The residence and several outbuildings had been entirely converted into an illegal indoor marijuana growing facility. Calaveras County Code Enforcement responded to the scene and red tagged the structure as uninhabitable.

Wenmin Yang, age 65, and Xiulan Yang age 65, were charged with 11358 H&S Illegal Marijuana Cultivation, 11359 H&S Possession of Marijuana for Sale, 11366 H&S Maintaining a Drug House, 11366.5 H&S Rent or Lease a Drug House, 182 PC Conspiracy to Commit Crime, and 148 PC Resisting a Peace Officer.

Evidence was collected at the scene and the investigation is ongoing.
The Calaveras Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone with knowledge of illegal marijuana operations to call the Sheriff’s Anonymous Marijuana Tip Line at (209) 754-6870.