Bail $300,000 for Prof in Pot Case

Bail was set at $300,000 Friday for San Diego State University professor Jack David Mooers, who was arrested with two other men on charges of growing hundreds of marijuana plants on his 50-acre ranch in Jamul.

Mooers, 57, and the two others appeared before U. S. Magistrate Roger McKee. James Wesley Johnson, 44, was ordered held on $200,000 bail. Bail for Bartolo Espinoza Mercado, 36, of Mexico, was set at $100,000 cash. Prosecutors argued that Espinoza’s bail should be set in cash because he is considered a flight risk.

Attorney Howard Frank appeared on behalf of Mooers and Johnson, who is Mooers’ half brother, and announced that the two men’s bail would be secured with property owned by Mooers’ wife, Betty Mooers, and her former husband, William Dervon.

The three men, being held at the Metropolitan Correctional Center, were arrested Thursday when agents from the Narcotics Task Force raided the ranch and seized 614 marijuana plants valued at about $750,000 and several vehicles.

They were booked on federal charges of conspiracy to cultivate and distribute marijuana. Each could be sentenced to a maximum of 40 years in federal prison and fined thousands of dollars if convicted.

Mooers, a professor of education, has taught at SDSU since 1968. School officials said he is a part-time professor and helps prepare classes for future teachers.