By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Police seized cars, trucks, firearms and a den full of mounted animal heads from an Onalaska couple who allegedly admitted using proceeds from an overgrown personal medicinal marijuana operation to generate approximately $136,000 per year.
When James L. Arnold and Laveta L. Arnold were contacted last week at their home on the 200 block of Griel Road, they told officers they’d been growing it for more than 15 years, but during the past five have been selling it for profit, according to the Centralia Police Department.
A search warrant was served last Thursday morning, with Centralia police, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office deputies and the SWAT Team.
They turned up more than 40 pounds of marijuana processed and packaged for sale with a street value of at least $2,000 per pound, according to police. In a shop building, they located what police described as an elaborate indoor garden with 614 plants, according to police detective Patty Finch.
The state medical marijuana law allows for up to 15 plants or 24 ounces for a qualifying patient.
According to court documents, the couple initially agreed to cooperate with law enforcement, but a detective learned James Arnold was warning people he had said he’d help apprehend, and they were arrested on Tuesday.
The Arnolds were charged in Lewis County Superior Court with manufacture of marijuana, possession with intent to to deliver and with money laundering on Wednesday. Prosecutors contend it occurred within 1000 feet of school grounds and while armed with deadly weapons.
Detective Finch says the case will also be referred to the Internal Revenue Service for investigation of possible tax fraud and to state authorities for business tax evasion.
Bail was set at $25,000 for James and at $10,000 for Laveta. Their arraignments are scheduled for next Thursday at 3 p.m.
According to police and court documents, James, 55, owns Alpha Marine Installations based at the home, is a vice president of a medical marijuana dispensary in the Olympia area called Urban Medicinals as well as another location in the Tacoma area.
Among the five vehicles seized were a 1948 Ford hot rod pickup and a 1969 Chevy Corvette, according to Finch. The 33 guns included hunting rifles, assault rifles and handguns, Finch states.
Finch says Arnold admitted to purchasing all or part of the vehicles with proceeds from his marijuana growing operation, as well as financing numerous hunting safari trips to Africa to hunt large trophy animals.
Approximately 30 mounted animal heads were also taken from the home.
Law enforcement officers collected computers, personal and banking records and growing equipment along with some personal property and cell phones that all appear to be proceeds from the growing operation, according to Finch.
Court documents state Centralia Police Department’s Anti-Crime Team and the sheriff’s office opened a money laundering operation regarding the couple in between December and January, related to the sale of marijuana. Finch said in a news release last week’s search warrant followed several months of investigation.
The couple has no previous criminal history, according to their court files.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
I voted against the marijuana bill because I read it before I voted. It’s like Bill S. said, “Unfortunately the state liquor commission has the only legal monopoly on pot growing …” And I voted against the state-run liquor commission, too.
The only reason marijuana was made illegal in the first place was so BIG PHARMACEUTICALS could get rich off your pain and suffering.
http: //conspiracyanalyst. org/2015/01/18/the-evils-of-big-pharma-exposed/
“So the state passed a law keeping both sides satisfied for the moment. The voters are being ignored.”
On what planet are you living?
This is exactly what the Citizens voted for, not “The State”; The CITIZENS!
The only conspiracy here is the Citizens not reading what they voted for then pitching a fit when it’s enforced.
People want pot legal. Government wants to keep the drug war. So the state passed a law keeping both sides satisfied for the moment. The voters are being ignored. People are getting screwed. It’s like being the government is the only drug dealer. Whilst busting people with the very product it sells.
“When the citizens of this state passed the Marijuana law. We thought we had made it clear that we wanted the growing, sales and use of pot to be legal.”
I have no doubt that’s exactly what you and other “users” thought you were doing. The less educated you are about what you’re voting on, the easier it is to be completely wrong about what you’re voting for. Had you actually sat down with the voters pamphlet and read the proposed law you were voting on, you would have known exactly what the law said.
That’s what happens when you make up your political mind based on bumper stickers and 10 second sound bites on the TV.
Voting in ignorance is more dangerous to the country than not voting at all.
ridge is about as close to an idiot as you can be and still use a computer. he must have voted on something he made up in his own mind cause i didn’t see anything on the ballot about it being legal to grow hundreds of plants and just sell to who ever you want to. i’m hoping this falls under the rico act and they go after anyone associated with it.
So when does the hot rod go up for auction?
So Ridge thinks that everyone can grow several hundred plants and sell pounds to who ever they want, yielding hundreds of thousands of dollars annually?
That is absolutely NOT how any law was passed, be it medicinal or under the 1 ounce law, 502. What you are describing is called either a drug trafficking organization or Cartel.
When the citizens of this state passed the Marijuana law. We thought we had made it clear that we wanted the growing, sales and use of pot to be legal. Then the powers that be got a hold of the law and said “oh no! We can’t legalize it! We would lose all that court money for fines and federal dollars for eradication”! So Law Enforcement convinced the Legislators to modify the law in the favor of Law Enforcement. So much for the “Will of the People”.
Just your everyday, ordinary, hard working drug dealers.
Free Air,
I agree. I only work about 6 months a year at most and have all of that and more. It’s the path you choose that decides where you go in life I guess.
Smart hard work will take you far.
Gee wiz Steve I was hoping to become President someday
So if you have a nice home, cars and are able to take vacations your only option is to be a drug dealer?!?
Nice to see the locak work ethic is alive and well; sort of.
“Citizen Dick” your comment is why you are not, and will never be in a position of authority.
Every other media outlet says that this duo were active members of the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office search and rescue. I’d say they were abusing their positions
Just a couple trying to start a business in Lewis County. What other job
opportunities does this county have that pays a decent wage.
Unfortunately the state liquor commission has the only legal monopoly on pot growing, distribution, and retailing. It’s still a felony to compete with them.
These people are the new lewis county entrepreneurs. Better pot at better prices than the goddam state liquor comm. – leave them alone:) Let me know when that corvette goes to sheriff’s auction.
just the tip of the iceberg. everyone who has done business with these culls should be worried about now. it’s gonna be interesting in the coming weeks to see this case spread to others counties. atf, the irs and numerous other federal agencies are probably drooling right now waiting to get their little pieces