Socorro Man Arrested For Trafficking

By John Larson

SOCORRO – A Socorro man arrested Tuesday on four counts of trafficking marijuana and three on possession of drug paraphernalia made his first appearance in Magistrate Court Wednesday and was released after bonding out, paying $35,000 in cash.
Jacob Ray, 27, had turned himself in to police headquarters Tuesday following a raid on his home at 1104 Sean Ave at 7 p.m. Monday.
Socorro Police Detective Richard Lopez said a tip from New Mexico Tech officer William Armijo and information from Bureau of Land Management Ranger Mark Wheeler, led officers to check out the house, which was unoccupied at the time.
“When we got to the residence there was a very strong odor of marijuana emitting from a blower sticking out of a window in the back,” Lopez said. “We secured the property and executed the search warrant.”
According to the criminal complaint, inside officers found a large in-door marijuana growing area, and covering the walls were heat shielding, rotating lighting, timers, and humidifiers.
“Along the walls were boards which had the different names of the plants being grown, and care instructions,” the complaint said.
An offset room contained several marijuana plants in different stages of growth, all of which had lighting and the same covering on the walls.
The criminal complaint said that in other rooms more marijuana was being grown.
Also located were boxes of ground marijuana and several pill bottles “which had appeared to be used to house marijuana for resale.”
Officers also found many records and receipts for marijuana, grow chemicals, and grow instructions. In plain view were several glass bongs, bong stems, marijuana in plastic baggies, marijuana pipes, copies of High Times magazine, and the marijuana Grower’s Bible.
Other items included maps, a GPS device, an AR-15 rifle, and a Ruger 10-22 rifle.
In all, over 100 marijuana plants were seized from the residence.
The date for Ray’s preliminary hearing has not been set.

Socorro Man Arrested For Trafficking