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SACRAMENTO – The Assembly Public Safety Committee on Wednesday gave unanimous, bipartisan support to a bill by Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro (D-North Coast) to crack down on offenders who pollute the environment and endanger the public by growing or manufacturing illegal drugs on forest lands.
“This bill is not about the legal production or use of medical marijuana under California law,” Chesbro told the committee. “This bill is about protecting those who work in the woods and those who hike, hunt or fish on public and private forest lands from the increasing violence from illegal drug operations. It is also about protecting these lands from pollution and diversion of waterways.”
Madeline Melo testified in favor of the bill and talked about her late husband Jere’s work and the tragic end of his life as well as the overall impact illegal drug production has had on the region.
Melo’s husband, Fort Bragg City Councilman Jere Melo, was inspecting forest land near the Noyo River for illegal marijuana grows when he was killed last Aug. 27.
The suspect in Melo’s murder, Aaron Bassler, also was believed responsible for killing Mendocino Land Trust conservationist Matthew Coleman two weeks earlier near Westport.
AB 2284 would increase the penalties for those violating the law by growing marijuana, operating a meth lab or any other illicit drug manufacturing on forest lands.
Under a very limited scope, the bill also would allow law enforcement to pull over and question drivers transporting irrigation piping onto or through resource lands.
AB 2284’s focus is on public lands and large scale industrial timber lands, not on homeowners or small property owners.
“Last year during ‘Operation Full Court Press’ more than 50,000 pounds of garbage was removed from national forest lands from illegal marijuana grows,” said Mendocino County Sheriff Tom Allman, who testified in support of AB 2284 at Wednesday’s hearing. “This bill will hopefully prevent these materials from being brought onto public lands.”
MENDOCINO COUNTY, Calif. – While conducting a warrant search for illegal marijuana Mendocino County law enforcement officials were surprised when they also found endangered wild steelhead and poached ducks.
On March 7, Department of Fish and Game (DFG) warden Don Powers seized 18 wild steelhead and 56 ducks from freezers in two locations while assisting the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Department in serving search warrants for illegal marijuana propagation.
The wild steelhead, 17 of which were spawning females, are believed to be from the Garcia River in Mendocino County, where they are protected and listed under the Endangered Species Act.
Formal charges will be brought against Kyle Edward Stornetta, 31, of Manchester for unlawful possession of the wild steelhead as well as unlawful possession of an overlimit of ducks.
Prosecutors are currently evaluating the case and deciding which additional state and federal regulations were violated, including marijuana violations.
“Enforcement efforts are critical to ensuring the threatened wild steelhead stocks are able to rebuild by returning and completing their spawning cycle on the Garcia River,” said DFG’s Chief of Enforcement Nancy Foley.
Wild steelhead along the Mendocino Coast were listed as threatened by the National Marine Fisheries Service in 2000 and it is unlawful to catch or possess them.
The federal listing spurred the investment of millions of dollars of public and private funds in the Garcia River and its watershed to fund restoration and conservation efforts including bank stabilization, upslope sediment reduction, the planting of thousands of small willow, silt reduction programs, road upgrading or decommissioning, and other improvement and forestry projects and practices.
Specific contributions have included more than $1 million in grants issued by DFG’s Fisheries Restoration Grants Program, an $18 million purchase of the Garcia Forest by the Conservation Fund of the Garcia River Forest to manage and restore its 23,780 acres, and a $3.5 million for a conservation easement purchased by the Nature Conservancy to conduct studies and monitor fish and wildlife populations within the forest.
Other investors include the County of Mendocino, the Mendocino Redwood Company and California Trout Unlimited.
The steelhead population is responding to these efforts and showing increasing signs of recovery. In 2009, DFG biologists estimated only 65 steelhead returned to spawn to the Garcia River, but in 2010 approximately 250 steelhead were tallied and in 2011 an estimated 770 steelhead spawned.
Even with these increasing numbers, the loss of 17 females is a significant blow to the Garcia River’s steelhead population.
“Those 17 females could have produced about 70,000 eggs to help restock the river,” said Doug Albin, a DFG fisheries biologist in Fort Bragg. “The Garcia River is gradually being nursed back to health by a number of groups pooling their conservation and restoration efforts, but those investments are negated when spawning females are illegally taken like this.”
LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Lakeport woman sustained minor injuries and was arrested for driving under the influence Wednesday morning after her vehicle went off the road while traveling over the Hopland Grade.
Teena Rangel, 24, was injured in the crash, which occurred on Highway 175 over the Hopland Grade at about 5 a.m. Wednesday morning, according to Officer Kory Reynolds of the California Highway Patrol's Clear Lake Area office.
Reynolds said Rangel was driving her 2002 Mercury Sable westbound at an unknown speed when she failed to negotiate a right curve in the roadway.
Rangel's vehicle ran off the north shoulder and down a steep embankment, Reynolds said.
Rangel sustained minor injuries to her forehead, right ankle and left side rib cage, according to Reynolds.
Rangel later was arrested for driving under the influence at Sutter Lakeside Hospital, he said.
Traffic control was in effect for approximately 15 minutes when the vehicle was being recovered, according to Reynolds.
The collision is under investigation by Officer Steve Curtis.
UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The Medical Board of California and the California Attorney General’s Office are pursuing a case against a local doctor who allegedly violated professional codes while prescribing medical marijuana to three patients.
Dr. Milan Hopkins of Upper Lake is the subject of the complaint, filed March 30.
The Medical Board of California formally brought the complaint against Hopkins and the case has been forwarded to the Attorney General’s Office for handling.
In a statement to Lake County News Hopkins called the Medical Board of California’s accusations against his medical practice “baseless.”
“I am confident that the eventual outcome of this case will affirm that my procedures conform to the standard of medical care,” he said.
A hearing has not yet been held in the case, the Medical Board of California reported.
Hopkins is accused of violating Business and Professions Code sections, including three counts of gross negligence for allegedly prescribing marijuana use to three separate patients without the required exams, without making contact or coordinating with primary care physicians, ignoring potential health issues and not following up on health issues.
He also is accused of not properly diagnosing the patients and in one female patient’s case “searching for a reason for the medical marijuana recommendation to enable the patient to avoid legal issues with her recreational weekend marijuana use,” the charging document stated.
That woman – who paid $250 in cash for the appointment with Hopkins – was, in fact, an undercover investigator who visited Hopkins’ office in October 2010, according to the charging document.
The other two patients at the heart of the complaint were male subjects. The Medical Board’s filing showed that both male patients were 19 years old and had reportedly driven from the Los Angeles area to get medical marijuana recommendations from Hopkins in February 2011.
One of the men had a treating physician in Southern California and the other already had a medical marijuana recommendation which he didn’t disclose to Hopkins, the documents stated.
The fourth cause of discipline under the Business and Professions Code that is alleged against Hopkins is repeated acts of negligence for prescribing marijuana to all three patients while allegedly failing to follow up on certain health conditions, including a bleeding disorder that one of the young men had reported having, and for failing to contact other treating physicians.
Hopkins, a well-known medical marijuana supporter, has reportedly stated that 70 percent of his medical practice comes from medical marijuana evaluations, according to the filings.
Hopkins – who received his medical license in California in 1972 – has had complaints filed against him by the Medical Board of California going back to 1979, board documents showed.
In 1979, he was accused of gross negligence, incompetence and repeated acts of negligence for overprescribing controlled substances such as Quaaludes, Percodan, Dilaudid and other prescription drugs. His license was revoked but the revocation was stayed in favor of 10 years’ probation.
In 1998, he was again brought before the board. In that case, he was charged for issues stemming from a 1993 Lake County Sheriff's search warrant service in which investigators found 23 marijuana plants on property he owned on Elk Mountain Road, and additional marijuana as well as methamphetamine and psilocybin mushrooms in his Main Street home in Upper Lake.
Due to that case and Hopkins' treatment of a patient between 1991 and 1997 – in which he prescribed narcotic painkillers at the same time as the patient was getting them from another doctor – the board concluded he had violated Business and Professions Codes by breaking federal or state statute regarding controlled substances and also was again guilty of gross negligence, incompetence and repeated negligent acts. He received a five-year probation sentence that ended in February 2004.
Lake County court records showed that a felony case based on the 1993 drug seizure was filed against Hopkins.
Regarding the current case, Medical Board of California spokesman Dan Wood said Hopkins remains able to practice medicine.
As to the next steps, Wood said the Medical Board’s investigators and enforcement staff will meet with Hopkins to disclose all of the evidence they have against him.
At that point Hopkins could choose to give up and surrender his license, fight the allegations or come to an arrangement where he is subject to probation for a period of time, as has happened in Hopkins’ past cases, Wood said.
Wood said the maximum penalty the Medical Board of California can impose is revocation of Hopkins’ license to practice medicine.
While Wood said it wouldn’t be appropriate to guess what action the board might take, he added, “The Board does not take lightly cases that are repeats of variations of matters they have already dealt with for a particular physician.”
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Police are continuing to seek leads in a strong arm robbery from earlier this month as well as a commercial burglary to a downtown bar that occurred late in March.
The robbery, which took place on the evening of April 3, involved a 15-year-old who was punched, knocked down and had his wallet taken at the corner of North Main Street and Mariah Way, as Lake County News has reported.
Lakeport Police Sgt. Kevin Odom said Officer Gary Basor is investigating the robbery.
“We believe the victim's wallet was located in the 1600 block of N. Main St. and he is attempting to determine if it has any evidence,” Odom said in an email message.
Odom added that Basor also has met with the victim again in hopes of obtaining a more accurate clothing description to determine if that might generate some more leads.
Police had described the suspect as a medium dark skinned male, approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt or jacket – possibly with a red "P" on the front – faded blue jeans, and tan boots or shoes. He may have been associated with a small black compact car with black tinted windows.
Regarding a burglary to the Clearlake Club Bar on March 25, in which cash was taken, Odom said Officer Destry Henderson is leading that investigation.
He said no new leads have surfaced, but Henderson is attempting to identify the person in a surveillance photo police released to the community, which can be seen above.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – After marking nine years of supporting deployed troops with care packages in March, Operation Tango Mike begins the progression toward 10 years.
The March packing party brought great fun and a few surprises. The open house that preceded the packing party was attended by approximately 125 people.
Rich Hinchcliff was the lucky winner of a drawing for one cord of firewood. He had purchased a ticket, knowing he had no use for the wood, but wanting to support Operation Tango Mike.
Upon being told he was the lucky winner, Hinchcliff donated the wood back, to be given to a veteran.
Supervisor Jim Comstock, a Vietnam veteran, lent a hand with care packages and expressed his gratitude to all those volunteering to support the troops.
Local soldiers, some recently home from Afghanistan, surprised everyone with a very special presentation to Operation Tango Mike.
Sergeant First Class Chad Holland, Staff Sergeant Don McPherson and Staff Sergeant Nelson Gonzalez presented the “True Patriot” award from the California Army National Guard.
The soldiers also graciously cut the anniversary cake and served the guests.
Ericka Boesel and Mariah Phillips, members of the Ukiah Shamrock 4-H were in attendance and donated dozens of plastic camouflage Eater eggs, stuffed with candy. They also donated handmade cards for the care packages.
Members of the Lakeport Lions and local Girl Scouts were also pitching in for the troops.
Even with the drawdown of troops in Iraq, Operation Tango Mike continues to field requests for care packages.
The number of monthly care packages has not decreased significantly, though there has been some misconception in the community. Volunteers continue to prepare 70 to 100 care packages, depending upon deployments beginning or ending near the packing party date.
Everyone is welcome to participate at the monthly packing parties. There are many tasks to be accomplished and efforts are made to accommodate all who wish to help.
Youngsters are invited to grab a marker and stickers and specially personalize the boxes. Troops have said they have actually picked Tango Mike boxes from a delivery, as they quickly recognized the cheerfully decorated gifts.
Sustaining support during difficult economic times is challenging. Thanks to the generosity of the community, no request for care package support has had to be denied in nine years.
Donations of goods are very helpful and may be placed in “drop zone barrels” at businesses in Lake and Mendocino Counties. Monetary assistance to pay shipping fees, which average nearly $1,000 per month, is always welcome.
Donations may be mailed to 5216 Piner Court, Kelseyville, CA 95451 or may be remitted via PayPal at www.operationtangomike.org .
If you wish to participate, but are unable to attend packing parties, cards and letters are needed every month.
The next packing party will take place at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 19th at Umpqua Bank, 805 11th Street, Lakeport.
You may also bring eyeglasses and hearing aids, which will be donated to the Lakeport Lions for recycling/repurposing.
For further information please call 349-2838, e-mail
