On Thursday, August 29, 2024 the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office served three consecutive search warrants at properties within the Klamath Forest Estates near Sprague River, Oregon. Two properties were located on Ruffed Grouse Lane and the third property was located on nearby Pheasant Lane. Tips from the public and law enforcement surveillance of the properties revealed what appeared to be illegal marijuana grow sites.
Oregon Resource Renovation Agency, LLC in Chiloquin, Oregon is listed as the owner of the first property on Ruffed Grouse Lane. No one was located on scene.
Kenneth Ledbury, 65, of Damascus, Oregon is the listed owner of the second property on Ruffed Grouse Lane. He was not located on scene. The investigation revealed the Ruffed Grouse Lane properties are connected by way of shared resources.
Nicholas Bates, 35, and Amy Barker, 33, both of Klamath Falls, Oregon are the listed owners of the property on Pheasant Lane. Neither were located on scene.
A recommendation of criminal charges will be sent to the Klamath County District Attorney’s Office for:
- Unlawful Possession of Marijuana (ORS 475B.337)
- Unlawful Manufacture of Marijuana (ORS 475B.349)
- Unlawful Use or Appropriation of Ground Water (ORS 537.535)
The on-scene investigation confirmed three illegal marijuana grow operations containing seven greenhouses for a total of 3,263 marijuana plants. Approximately 180 pounds of processed marijuana, a Butane Hash Oil (BHO) lab, cash, three firearms, and ammunition were seized during the search. Also discovered was the illegal use of water used to irrigate the marijuana plants. It is estimated that more than 392,000 gallons of water was illegally used to grow this amount of marijuana.
Investigators observed a considerable amount of trash and debris consisting of thousands of feet of plastic greenhouse coverings, plastic pots, household garbage, toxic fertilizers and more scattered throughout the property.
The Klamath County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Klamath County District Attorney’s Office, Oregon State Police, Malin Police Department, Basin Inter-Agency Narcotics Enforcement Team, Klamath County Solid Waste, Klamath County Code Enforcement, Oregon Medical Marijuana Program, Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission, Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon State Water Master.
