Deputies find pot, assault weapons at five homes

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office discovered a large cache of marijuana and automatic weapons last week at five houses in Santa Cruz County, including one outside Scotts Valley and one in Bonny Doon.
After a multiple-week investigation, the sheriff’s office served search warrants on five homes in the county Nov. 16.
During the bust, deputies seized more than 100 pounds of marijuana buds valued at about $300,000; 17 guns, including eight AK-47 assault rifles and five AR15 assault rifles; and several illegal high-capacity magazines. More than 400 marijuana plants that were being cultivated were also found.
“The guns were something we weren’t expecting,” Sgt. Mark Yanez said. “And it was a significant amount of marijuana.”
Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms took the weapons for possible federal charges.
Deputies also seized a boat valued at $40,000 for which one of the suspects recently paid cash. The suspect did not appear to have legitimate income for the purchase, and deputies think he purchased the boat with cash from marijuana sales.
Three of the homes were on the west side in Santa Cruz, one was on Robles Drive in Bonny Doon and another was on Jarvis Road outside of Scotts Valley.
Naomi Marquez, 32, of Scotts Valley, was arrested at the Jarvis Road house.
Deputies arrested five suspects for conspiracy and the possession for sale and cultivation of marijuana. Also arrested were Cody Dumont, 35; Garth Dumont, 29; Mikaela Smith, 35; and Gary Gilholm, 30, all of Santa Cruz. The Dumonts face additional weapons charges.