Man Convicted of Cultivating 500 Marijuana Plants on Public Yolo Land

A Yolo County jury found 57-year-old Fidel Alvarez guilty on Jan. 24 of growing 500 marijuana plans on public land in Yolo County, according to District Attorney's Office. Alvarez was armed with firearm at the time of his arrest. 

Here are the details from the DA:

On September 6, 2012, agents from the Yolo County Narcotics Enforcement Team and the Mountain and Valley Marijuana Investigations Team discovered a marijuana grow one third of a mile off Highway 16 in Yolo County on public lands. The marijuana grow contained over 500 plants that were only a few days away from harvest. Agents discovered Alvarez walking through the field of plants dressed in camouflage clothing. Alvarez was carrying a .22 caliber rifle with a homemade flash suppressor.

Alvarez admitted to agents that he had been hired by drug dealers in Richmond, CA to come and tend to the marijuana grow. He stated that he was going to receive a percentage of the profits from the sale of the marijuana. Experts testified that the plants would produce somewhere between 250 and 500 pounds of marijuana which would have a street value of $250,000 to $500,000.

“These marijuana grows on public lands are dangerous and the cause of numerous acts of violence across the state,” said Deputy District Attorney Michael Vroman who prosecuted the case. District Attorney Reisig commented on the environmental impact. “The toll these marijuana grows have on the surrounding environment due to chemicals and fertilizers is immeasurable,” said Reisig.

Alvarez will be sentenced on February 25, 2013 by the Honorable Timothy L. Fall who presided over the trial. Alvarez faces up to four years in prison.

For more information, please contact Chief Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Raven via email at jonathan.raven@yolocounty.org.