Weapons And Marijuana Seized During Parole Checks In Tuolumne County

Sonora, Ca — Parole compliance checks were initiated at 23 Tuolumne County residences Wednesday to make sure that local parolees were following the conditions of their parole.

Taking part were parole agents from the California Department of Corrections, detectives with the Tuolumne County Sheriff´s Department and officers from the Sonora Police Department.

A total of seven arrests were made. Three of the individuals were arrested for violating the terms of parole, and the other arrests were of individuals that were at or near the residences in check.

Approximately 65 grams of Marijuana were seized that had been possessed for sale. It had a street value of $1,625. Additionally, nine weapons were seized which included swords, knives, a blowgun and scythe.

Suspects arrested:

21-year-old Mary Francis Montoya of Parrotts Ferry Rd. for violation of a probation bench warrant

28-year-old John Carl Clark of Partridge Way for violation of parole

20-year-old Matthew Raydale Richison of Partridge Way for possession of marijuana for sale, weapons violations and possession of a crank pipe

62-year-old James Edward Benitez of Snell St. for possession of a deadly weapon

45-year-old Jeffrey Scott Plunkett of Snell St. for possession of a dangerous weapon, possession of a crank pipe and parole violation

34-year-old Paul Thomas Gravelle of Mt. Brow Rd. for possession of drug paraphernalia and violation of parole

42-year-old Sheri Jane Verkuyl of Columbia Way for possession of a narcotic prescription that is not her own

Written by BJ Hansen