Law enforcement officials seized over 2,000 marijuana plants
near the Pacheco Creek Reservoir Tuesday, arresting the man living
in and cultivating the gardens that eventually could have produce
several million dollars of street-value marijuana.
Law enforcement officials seized over 2,000 marijuana plants near the Pacheco Creek Reservoir Tuesday, arresting the man living in and cultivating the gardens that eventually could have produce several million dollars of street-value marijuana.
Augustine Castillo, 45, was arrested for felony marijuana cultivation when 10 San Benito County Sheriff’s Department special agents entered the area in between Pacheco Creek and the Pacheco Creek drainage, about a quarter of a mile west of Lover’s Lane at 1 p.m., said agent David Pilkington of the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team.
The 2,017 plants were between one and three feet tall and occupied three separate gardens – the largest about 70 yards by 30 yards and the others slightly smaller, Pilkington said.
Castillo had a small camp site located inside the smallest garden, he said.
“He had a sleeping bag and was camping out. He was guarding it and tending it,” Pilkington said. “He was totally compliant, was not armed and gave up with no resistance.”
Castillo had no prior narcotics arrests, but was arrested for a misdemeanor driving under the influence charge in 2003 and a drunk in public charge in 2001, according to San Benito County Jail officials.
Castillo is incarcerated at the jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.
Agents discovered the cache of plants about a month ago when someone trying to camp in the area had called sheriff’s deputies and advised them they had been shot at while trying to find a place to camp, Pilkington said.
“The deputies stumbled upon the garden and took it over to us,” he said. “We followed up yesterday… There are certain reasons why we waited so long that I can’t go into because they’re part of the investigation.”
Agents seized the crop and booked it into evidence at the Hollister Police Department.
The plants will be destroyed upon a court order after the case is settled through the District Attorney’s Office, Pilkington said.
“There’s different ways to dispose of it,” he said. “Burn it, bury it – it depends.”
Erin Musgrave can be reached at 637-5566, ext. 336 or at
