140 Marijuana Plants Uprooted; Man Held

A Ventura man was arrested Thursday afternoon on suspicion of growing a small plantation of 140 marijuana plants in a remote canyon area on La Conchita Ranch, authorities said.

Anton James Christie, 51, was being held on suspicion of cultivating marijuana and possessing it with the intent to distribute it, Sheriff’s Deputy Curt Rothschiller said. His bail was $20,000.

Rothschiller said the plants were high quality and worth about $700,000 on the street.

The arrest followed a monthlong surveillance of the plantation. Authorities learned of the site from a person who came upon it and described it to deputies as sophisticated.

Rothschiller said the plants were being grown in a small area but were partly hidden in brush. He declined to specify what made the operation sophisticated.

Christie, who is unemployed, was arrested after he was seen tending the plants. He ran from deputies but was captured moments later, Rothschiller said.

The plants were uprooted and confiscated by deputies and will be destroyed at a later date, the sergeant said.

Christie trespassed on the ranch to reach the plantation, the sergeant said. The ranch owners were not involved in the operation, he added.