Nevada City – May marked the start of the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) illegal cannabis enforcement. Every year, in conjunction with known cultivation periods, members of the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) Special Investigation Unit (SIU) seek out and terminate illegal grows and will cite or arrest offenders as warranted. Search warrants were executed throughout the month of May at six properties in Nevada County suspected of operating illegal cannabis operations, including Nevada City, Smartsville (Big Oak Valley), Rough and Ready, and Grass Valley.

Collectively, 8,964 cannabis plants and 92 lbs. of processed cannabis were eradicated. A total of 10 firearms were also seized from three of the involved properties with two individuals arrested as followed:

Carlos Anibal DeMarco, 29, was arrested on May 8 at his property located on the 12000 block of Birchville Rd. in Nevada City, for two counts of H&S 11358d(3)(C) – illegal cannabis cultivation while also violating 5650 or 5652 of the Fish and Game Code for dumping chemicals into a waterway; two counts of H&S 11358d(D) – illegal cannabis cultivation while also violating 1602 of the Fish and Game Code for diverting the flow of water; PC 30605(A) – illegally possessing any assault weapon; and H&S 11370.1(A) – possessing any controlled substance while armed with a loaded firearm. At his property alone, 5,549 cannabis plants and 51 lbs. of processed cannabis were destroyed. Methamphetamine, cocaine and other drug paraphernalia were also located, along with seven firearms and multiple ammunition cans of various caliber ammunition, all of which were seized. Explosive substances with blasting caps and a detonating cord were also present. Placer County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team was called upon to assist and safely rendered the explosives. DeMarco was arrested and booked into Wayne Brown Correctional Facility without incident.

Marlin Mora-Patricio, 22, was arrested on May 9 at her property located on the 23000 block of Big Oak Drive in Smartsville, for H&S 11358d(3)(C) – illegal cannabis cultivation while also violating section 5650 or 5652 of the Fish and Game Code for having trash in a waterway; H&S 11358d(3)(D) – illegal cannabis cultivation while also violating section 1602 of the Fish and Game Code for diverting the flow of water; and PC 25850(C)(6) – possession of a stolen firearm. At her property and a neighboring affiliated property, which was also part of the same search warrant, 2,111 cannabis plants were located and destroyed with one stolen firearm seized. Mora-Patricio was arrested and booked into Wayne Brown Correctional Facility without incident.

Partners who assisted NCSO SIU with the execution of search warrants and/or the investigations included the Nevada County District Attorney’s Office, Nevada County Code Compliance, California Fish and Wildlife, California Regional Water Quality Control Board, California Tax Franchise Board, Trident Task Force, the National Guard, California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, and PCSO EOD.

Additional search warrants will be executed throughout the summer and fall months. Community members who suspect illegal grow activity are encouraged to call NCSO or Nevada County Code Compliance. Tips may also be submitted anonymously at https://www.nevadacountyca.gov/192/Sheriffs-Crime-Tip-Form