On Thursday, July 18, 2024 the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant at the property belonging to, Roxie Ann Ottenbacher, 70,located a 17840 Keno Worden Road. Surveillance of the property, upon receipt of a tip, revealed five (5) unpermitted greenhouses containing what appeared to be an illegal marijuana operation.
Taylor Lalande, 29, of Klamath Falls, Loretta Kerekes, 49, of Klamath Falls, and Alan Mojicia-Mejia, 26, of Orland, California were arrested and charged with:
• Unlawful Possession of Marijuana (ORS 475B.337)
• Unlawful Manufacture of Marijuana (ORS 475B.349)
• Criminal Conspiracy (ORS 161.450)
• Unlawful Use or Appropriation of Ground Water (ORS 537.535)
Taylor Lalande was also charged with Theft in the First Degree (ORS 164.055).
The on-scene investigation confirmed five (5) large greenhouses with each measuring approximately 150 feet long. The greenhouses and surrounding property contained 3,780 illegal marijuana plants in various stages of maturity. Also discovered was the illegal use of domestic well water used to irrigate the marijuana plants. As well as infrastructure for drying and packaging, in addition to the stored and potentially harmful fertilizers. It is estimated that over a period of 3 months, more than 295,000 gallons of water was illegally used to grow this amount of marijuana.
Deputies observed a considerable amount of trash and debris consisting of thousands of feet of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) piping, plastic drip tubing, plastic greenhouse coverings and more. Trash and debris are scattered throughout the property.
The Klamath County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Basin Inter-Agency Narcotics Enforcement Team, Klamath County Community Corrections, Klamath County Solid Waste, Klamath County Code Enforcement, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Oregon State Police,Oregon Medical Marijuana Program, Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission, Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon State Water Master.
Please Report Illegal Marijuana to: (541) 850-5380 or mjtipline@klamathcounty.org
