Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Aug. 9, 2023, at about 7:14 a.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies on patrol in Trinidad conducted a vehicle investigation on an occupied vehicle parked in the area of Scenic Drive and Cher-Ae Lane. The occupant of the vehicle, 42-year-old Kathlene Crystal Mellon, was found to be asleep in the driver’s seat with drug paraphernalia in plain view.

Deputies woke Mellon and conducted a search of her person and vehicle. During their search, deputies located approximately 7.3 ounces of suspected fentanyl, over 3 grams of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and pepper spray.

Mellon was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of possession of a controlled substance for sales (HS 11351), possession of a controlled substance (HS 11377(a)), possession of drug paraphernalia (HS 11364(a)), felon in possession of tear gas (PC 22810(a)) and committing a crime while released from custody on a felony (PC 12022.1(b)).

On August 13, while in custody at the Humboldt County Correctional Facility, Mellon was involved in a physical altercation with another inmate. Due to this incident, Mellon received additional charges of assault (PC 240) and battery (PC 242).

Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.