PREVIOUSLY: Large Sheriff’s Convoy Headed Out Hwy 36 Yesterday

From the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Community Response Unit (C.R.U.) obtained a Humboldt County Superior Court Search warrant for two residences after an approximate month long investigation which began with a crime tip. The warrant authorized the deputies to search a residence in the 2100 block of Law Blvd, Eureka and a residence in the 1900 block of Scenic Drive, Fortuna. Deputies assisted by the Humboldt County Drug Task Force (H.C.D.T.F) served the warrant at Law Blvd first at approximately 7:30 a.m. on 03-25-2013. When deputies arrived they located Matthew Mildbrandt, 19 years old and a 17 year old juvenile female. When deputies searched the residence they located ten one pound packages of marijuana bud, an assault weapon, 65 growing marijuana plants, approximately 10 pounds of processed marijuana, a US Postal Box containing approximately two pounds of sealed marijuana ready to be shipped via US Postal Service, paperwork indicating sales of marijuana, approximately $6000.00 in US Currency and evidence of Matthew Mildbrandt having unlawful sexual relations with a minor. Matthew was arrested for cultivation and possession for sale of marijuana, conspiracy to commit a felony, being armed in commission of a felony and unlawful sexual relations with a minor. He was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility where his bail was set at $50,000.00. The juvenile female was released to her mother who responded to the residence and took custody of her.

Deputies then served the search warrant at the Scenic Drive residence. When they arrived at the residence no one was home. The residence belonged to Mark Mildbrandt 56 years old, and his wife Denise Mildbrandt, 54 years old, the parents of Matthew Mildbrandt. They searched the residence and located two assault style weapons and nineteen other rifles and handguns. They also located paperwork indicating sales of marijuana and over 400 ounces of silver along with other precious metals and approximately 13,000.00 in cash. While at the home Mark showed up in his employer’s truck. Deputies searched the truck Mark arrived in and found approximately 10 pounds of harvested marijuana in the truck. Mark Mildbrandt was arrested for cultivation and possession of marijuana for sale, conspiracy and armed in commission of a felony. He was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility where his bail was set at $50,000.00.

Denise Mildbrandt showed up at the residence after Mark, and she too was arrested for cultivation of marijuana, possession for sale of marijuana, conspiracy and armed in commission of a felony. Her bail was set at $50,000.00. 

Deputies were able to obtain information during their search which indicated Mark and Denise Mildbrandt had property in the 2500 block of Burr Valley Road, Dinsmore along with Mark David Mildbrandt. Deputies obtained a search warrant for that property and drove to Burr Valley Road to serve the warrant on 3-25-2013, approximately 4:00 p.m. When the deputies drove up Burr Valley Road, they came across four fir trees that had been recently fallen across the road. The fir trees were approximately two feet in diameter and completely blocked the road. This not only blocked the deputies from accessing the search warrant location to be searched, but it also blocked other non involved residents from accessing or leaving their homes. Deputies were able to clear the road enough to pass after about thirty minutes using chainsaws. 

Once at the search warrant site, deputies located a cabin that had been converted for cultivation of marijuana. There was a small living space, along with a drying and manicuring room. Deputies located a diesel powered greenhouse on the property that had leaked several gallons of diesel and oil onto the ground. In the greenhouse structure deputies approximately 300 growing marijuana plants approximately one foot high. They also located approximately 364 pounds of dried marijuana and three firearms including a shotgun. No one was at the structure when they arrived.

The Humboldt County Code Enforcement Unit and Environmental Health are being notified of the environmental damage that the deputies witnessed at the scene.

This is an ongoing investigations with more arrests anticipated.