June 30, 2015 - On Saturday, June 6, 2015 the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office received information about possible illegal marijuana gardens in the Dog Town Rd. area of Greeley Hill in Mariposa County. Reportedly several Hispanic males were seen in the area with a semi-truck full of dirt and tractor equipment. Douglas Breton a resident on the property stated to deputies that he had people clearing brush from the property a few weeks earlier but that at this time no one else should be on the property. During a helicopter overflight search conducted on Tuesday, June 9th several plots of marijuana were located.
On Thursday, June 25th Mariposa County Sheriff’s Deputies along with Mariposa County Probation Officers, Mariposa County District Attorney’s Office and Yosemite National Park Special Response Team, served a search warrant on the property. During the initial interview Mr. Breton indicated that he had no knowledge of a marijuana garden. He told investigators that he did have two Hispanic males working on the property to work off a debt. Mr. Breton stated that while walking on the property he noticed irrigation line on the hillside and that he did not want anything to do with the size of the garden and never gave anyone permission to grow marijuana this season. Mr. Breton admitted to the investigators that in previous years he has allowed some Hispanic males to grow marijuana on the property. Douglas Breton was able to direct the team to a camp site he stated the people working on the garden were staying at.
Evidence located on the property led investigators to believe that Mr. Breton had prior knowledge of the marijuana growing on his property: (1) A camera found inside his residence had photos of the overflight operation, photos of the roads leading to the garden sites (2) the proximity of the three gardens, 75 feet from his residence (3) matching fertilizer bags found at the grow sites and the driveway of the residence (4) the water supply connected to a faucet near the property well.
Three plot sites were located on the property. A total of 4,964 marijuana plants were eradicated. A campsite consisting of a tent under a tarp with bedding and clothes for two people along with a cell phone and a casino player’s club card to Menominee casino in Keshena Wisconsin were also located. This is appears to be a Mexican Cartel Drug Trafficking Operation.
Douglas Breton, 61 of Greeley Hill was arrested and is being held at the Mariposa County Adult Detention Facility for charges of 11358 HS Cultivation of Marijuana; 29800(A)(1) Felon in possession of a firearm; 1203.2 Probation Violation, 30305(A) Felon in possession of ammunition.
He is being held on $100,000 bail.
Source: Mariposa County Sheriff Department
