On July 21, 2010, a jury returned a guilty verdict against Isidro Haros, 36 of Stockton, on one count of transportation of marijuana and a lesser included offense of possession of marijuana. The trial was presided over by the Honorable Judge Gerald Sevier. Haros is expected to be sentenced on August 18, 2010 in Department 4 of the Visalia Courthouse.

On August 14, 2009, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department became aware of a possible marijuana transaction that was to take place in the northern part of Tulare County. The Sheriff’s Tactical Enforcement Personnel (STEP) unit set up surveillance of the suspected location and conducted detailed surveillance of two suspect vehicles. The defendant, Haros, was the driver of a silver Mercedes SUV that met with a brown GMC truck. The two vehicles traveled from the Dinuba area into Fresno County and then back into Tulare County. The Mercedes SUV eventually met up with the brown GMC truck at the rest stop on Highway 99 and Ave. 384.

The silver Mercedes SUV was stopped by TCSO deputies near Highway 99 and Ave. 384. The detective that contacted the defendant immediately noticed a strong odor of marijuana when the defendant rolled down his window. The vehicle was subsequently searched and 23 plastic bags, with approximately one pound of marijuana in each of them, were located in the back of the SUV.

The defendant denied any knowledge of the marijuana in the vehicle. The defendant admitted he stopped the car at the Hwy 99 rest stop. He further stated he noticed a strong odor in the car only after reentering the car at the rest stop. The STEP unit’s detailed surveillance proved that the defendant was never away from the vehicle at the rest stop.

This case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Michelle Wallis and investigated by Detective Richard Ramirez of the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department.

Contact Person: Assistant District Attorney, Shani Jenkins, (559) 733-6411