10,000 plant marijuana garden, weapons discovered in Lake County

Law enforcement officials in Lake County on Tuesday discovered a 10,000 plant marijuana garden less than a mile from the garden in which an armed suspect was shot and killed by a Lake County deputy last week, according to the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

The dead man was identified Tuesday as Juan Sanchez Corona, 51, of Michoacan, Mexico, Lake County officials said.

Lake County Sheriff's deputies, along with state Campaign Against Marijuana Planting officers, also found and confiscated several loaded firearms and ammunition in the garden uncovered Tuesday on private land near Socrates Mine Road and Ford Flat Road between Middletown and Cobb, officials said. They included an assault rifle with a scope. There also was a night vision scope with an infrared beam, they said.

Officials also found ammunition that could not be fired with the rifles located at the scene. They could not find the weapons that belonged with the ammunition.

There also was evidence of recent occupation of the garden, including footprints, freshly watered plants and three unoccupied tents, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Officials warned that anyone accessing remote lands should be aware and wary of marijuana operations. Back out of the area and notify the Sheriff's Department, officials said.