Alpine County authorities raid marijuana operation inside Markleeville barn

Three Markleeville men face multiple felony drug charges after Alpine County authorities found a sophisticated marijuana grow operation inside two levels of a Spring Canyon Drive barn. A search warrant issued on Oct. 13 netted 312 plants, assorted grow lights and drug use paraphernalia, according to Alpine County Undersheriff Robert Levy.
Arrested were John Borchard, 23, Stephen Seiller, 25 and Justin Jones, 35, who also has a New York residency. Here is information from a press release by Undersheriff Levy regarding the arrest:

On Oct. 13, 2012 at approximately 3:08 p.m. sheriff’s deputies served a search warrant at 53 Spring Canyon Drive, Markleeville. The search warrant was issued based on an informant statement and follow up at the location which provided sufficient information to obtain the search warrant.

Found at the location inside a large barn were several rooms within the barn that contained one of the most well constructed and sophisticated marijuana grows ever found in Alpine County. The entire area of the 32X48 feet barn was converted to growing or supporting the growing of marijuana. The barn contained two down stairs grow rooms. One room was complete with lights, timers, humidity monitors, fans, a carbon dioxide enrichment system and filtered external ventilation. There was even air conditioning installed and operating in the one grow room that was finished. The other room was nearly finished with all of the equipment new and in boxes, ready to be installed. The upstairs of the barn had younger plants growing with three tubs converted to producing hydroponic starter clones. A smaller grow was found in one of the rooms of the residence.

During the service of the search warrant, four persons arrived at the residence. One person was identified and released. Of the four persons that arrived, three were identified as residents and were taken into custody without incident. The three persons taken into custody were:

John Borchard – 23 of Markleeville, CA
Stephen Seiller – 25 of Markleeville, CA
Justin Jones – 35 of both Markleeville, CA and New York

Deputies seized 312 growing marijuana plants along with miscellaneous drug use paraphernalia and thousands of dollars of growing equipment. This is an ongoing investigation.