PHOTO COURTESY OF MARIPOSA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE THIS IS ONE OF SOME 8,000 MARIJUANA PLANTS CONFISCATED IN THE HELLS HOLLOW AREA OF MARIPOSA COUNTY LAST WEEK. In what may be a precursor to a very busy illegal growing season, last Friday Mariposa County Sheriff’s Department deputies and probation personnel took down an illegal wilderness marijuana operation in the Hells Hollow area of Mariposa County.

Hells Hollow is in extremely rugged terrain above the Merced River in the Bagby Canyon area, west of the Bagby bridge on the back side of Bear Valley. When officers entered the garden area, they located a single hispanic adult male who was holding what appeared to be a rifle.

When law enforcement officers confronted the subject, he ran north toward Highway 49. Deputies gave chase and later canvassed the area but met with negative results. Additional patrol units were called to assist with checking the roadways, but the subject was never spotted. It was later determined that the subject was packing a pellet rifle, which he dropped during the pursuit.

“With all the rain we’ve had, we knew they would start growing early,” said Sheriff Brian Muller. “They are out there planting now, and there’s no doubt in my mind that this will be a recordbreaking year.” Last year Muller’s department, with interagency assistance, eradicated 124,000 marijuana plants.

In last week’s bust, 8,013 plants, ranging in size from seedlings to 6 to 8 inches in height, were destroyed. At that size, the plants don’t have a corresponding street value. But as mature mid-grade plants, they would be worth over $10 million according to Muller.

Muller said his department will have one additional full time deputy devoted to garden eradication as the season progresses.

In a related event, a deputy spotted a hispanic male near the remote Greeley Hill heliport pad on Tuesday, and reported that the subject took “leg bail” when approached.

“We’re going to be vigilant, and I’m sure very busy this season,” Muller said, and he reminded residents to use caution when accessing remote areas of the county in outdoor activities. “You never know what you might walk into,” Muller said.