Pubdate: Sat, 11 Jul 2015
Source: Herald and News (Klamath Falls, OR)
Copyright: 2015 Herald and News
Contact:  http://www.heraldandnews.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2600
Author: Stephen Floyd

SHERIFF DENIES HARASSING TRIBE OVER MARIJUANA GROW

Modoc County Sheriff Mike Poindexter has denied accusations of 
harassment alleged by the Pit River Tribe, in relation to its 
attempts to establish a large-scale marijuana grow.

In a June 7 letter to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the tribe 
claimed Poindexter and his deputies routinely detained and questioned 
tribal members without cause since it announced, in March, plans for 
a marijuana grow on tribal land near Burney, Calif.

Poindexter's denial came just days after state, federal and county 
authorities raided a large-scale marijuana grow Wednesday on the Pit 
River Tribe's XL Ranch. A separate marijuana grow belonging to the 
Alturas Indian Rancheria was also raided.

Roughly 12,000 plants and 100 pounds of processed marijuana were 
seized from the two raids, according to a news release from the U.S. 
Attorney General's Office (AGO). No arrests have yet been made.

Prior to the raid, the Pit River Tribe sought an investigation from 
DOJ, alleging the Modoc County Sheriff's Office "engaged in a pattern 
or practice of near-daily harassment and intimidation of tribal 
members and employee," according to their letter.

The tribe claimed unwarranted traffic stops and unreasonable 
detainments were conducted by deputies seeking information about the 
proposed marijuana grow.

"For these reasons, the tribe respectfully calls on (the DOJ's) 
office to honor its trust obligation to the tribe and take immediate 
action to protect the tribal members and employees from the Modoc 
County Sheriff's discriminatory actions and to investigate these 
matters," the letter stated.

On Friday, Poindexter said alleged unlawful stops and detainments 
never took place, and said his office was instead following up on 
reports of unlawful activity.

"We were investigating a crime," he said, stating the tribal 
investigation began after his office was notified of the marijuana 
grow. "I was going to do everything I could to stop it."

In its letter, the tribe claimed its marijuana grow adhered to state 
and tribal law. Poindexter, however, said the tribe's actions defy 
federal law, and he has investigated the grow on such grounds.

According to the AGO news release, the volume of marijuana found at 
each location was "well in excess of the locally enacted marijuana 
cultivation limits," and intended for distribution outside tribal lands.

Poindexter said his office has yet to be contacted by the DOJ. A 
phone call seeking comment from the office of Tracy Toulou, director 
of the DOJ Office of Tribal Justice, to whom the letter was 
specifically addressed, was not returned prior to deadline.

When seeking comment from the Pit River Tribe, both in regard to the 
letter and Wednesday's raid, a staff member in the tribe's office 
indicated Friday administrators were unavailable to speak on the matters.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom