 |
|
Hermenejildo Flores awaits trial in Butte County accused of possessing 3,692 marijuana plants.
|
After an unidentified Butte County property was raided by the Butte County Sheriff Department Special Enforcement Unit on Aug. 3, Hermenejildo Flores, 32, was arrested.
Authorities said 3,692 marijuana plants were found in Flores’ possession, valued at an estimated $4,430,400 wholesale.
Four other men were arrested and booked with the same charges. They are also awaiting trial in November. Flores was armed with a Ruger 10-22, a small caliber, auto-loading rifle, when arrested.
In a Sept. 22 plea hearing, Flores pleaded not guilty to the marijuana cultivation charges and denied he had the Ruger firearm when he was arrested.
Bail was initially set at $115,000 but a request to lower it to $65,000 was granted on Sept. 2. Flores has been remanded to the custody of the Butte County Sheriff’s Office.
Public defender Eric Ray Ortner will defend Flores in the November trial. He will also need the aid of an interpreter because his primary language is Spanish.
Prior to his arrest, Flores’ criminal record didn’t include any felonies or misdemeanors.