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A Valley Springs man faces additional criminal charges stemming from a pair of marijuana busts a little more than a week ago. Edward Pereira, 38, had been charged with possession of an illegal assault rifle, criminal conspiracy and cultivation and possession of marijuana after Sheriff’s Office narcotics investigators served a search warrant at his McCauley Drive home on March 12 and reportedly recovered about 1,700 plants. Prosecutors introduced additional counts of criminal conspiracy and cultivation and possession of marijuana for sale Thursday in the Calaveras County Superior Court stemming from a second raid on a Campo Seco property on March 13. Pereira pleaded not guilty plea to the new charges, having done the same a week earlier on the initial counts. The property in the second raid is owned by Pereira’s mother, Pat, who posted bail for her daughter-in-law Alicia and grandson Andrew Adams on related charges earlier this week, said Deputy District Attorney Dana Pfeil. Eric Nelson, 58, of Lodi, was arrested on outstanding warrants at the raid on the Chile Camp Road residence and is scheduled to be arraigned today on charges of criminal conspiracy and cultivation and possession of marijuana for sale. Nelson is Pereira’s cousin, Pfeil said, adding that evidence showed they had been racking up a $5,000 monthly electricity bill at the site where 800 marijuana plants were found. “The facts, as alleged by the District Attorney, are not yet proved,” said Pereira’s attorney, Mary Ann Bird. Bird added that Pereira and Nelson are qualified growers under Proposition 215, the California Compassionate Use Act. Assigned Judge Douglas Mewhinney set bail for Pereira at $500,000. Pereira faces a pre-preliminary hearing on April 2 and a preliminary hearing on April 16. Bird told the judge charges may be pending against her client in an unrelated criminal case in San Joaquin County. “He has an out-of-county case in Lodi,” she said, arguing unsuccessfully for reduced bail. “I don’t think he’s going anywhere.” Contact Sean Janssen at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 890-7741. |