LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Earlier this week law enforcement officials arrested three people and seized marijuana and weapons following the service of search warrants near Clearlake Oaks.
Arrested in the case were Ryan Alan Balletto, 30, of Lakeport; his girlfriend, Christa McConnell, 27, of Upper Lake; and Patrick Steven Pearmain, 24, of Clearlake, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
All three remained in custody on Friday, with bail for Balletto set at $10 million, Pearmain’s bail set at $1 million and McConnell’s at $200,000, jail records showed.
On Wednesday members of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team, Narcotics Task Force and Major Crimes Unit served a search warrant on approximately 681 acres of property owned by Balletto – who was suspected of illegal marijuana cultivation – in the area of Junction Plaza in Clearlake Oaks, the sheriff’s office reported. Deputies also served a search warrant at Balletto’s home in north Lakeport.
As a result of the searches 1,491 marijuana plants were eradicated, more than $4,000 in cash and 22 weapons – consisting of high powered military grade sniper and assault rifles, automatic assault rifles and pistols – were seized, officials reported.
Other items confiscated during the search warrant service included ammunition, high capacity magazines, military grade body armor and military grade scopes, according to the report.
The sheriff’s office reported that this was the the largest and most sophisticated bulk of weapons seized in the agency’s recent history.
Five children were removed from the home in north Lakeport and taken into custody by CPS, the sheriff’s office reported.
Balletto was booked on drug and weapons charges, McConnell on weapons and child endangerment charges and Pearmain on drug charges, according to jail records.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office detectives also are investigating Balletto and Pairmain for numerous sex-related crimes. The investigation is ongoing and more details will be provided in the future.
Anyone with information regarding either of these investigations should contact the Lake County Sheriff’s Office at 707-263-2690.