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A sheriff in Northern California has recently voiced his concerns regarding the presence of drug cartels in the region. His remarks come in the wake of accusations from a Native American tribe, who alleged that his office overstepped its authority during cannabis farm raids on tribal land in the previous year.
Mendocino County Sheriff Matthew Kendall explained to Fox News Digital that his office has been receiving urgent requests from tribal members seeking assistance in combating illegal cannabis operations and the rising crime rates on the reservation. He emphasized that the majority of his department’s raids were conducted outside of tribal boundaries.
“Tribal members have reached out, pleading for help, saying, ‘Please, we’ve got gunshots going on all night, all around us,'” Kendall stated. “These individuals include both tribal members and non-tribal members. My duty is to protect them and uphold the law, but when I execute search warrants and subsequently face lawsuits, it becomes problematic.”
Kendall characterized the area’s economic state as depressed, suggesting that this creates an environment conducive to cartel activity. He expressed concern over the substantial violence reported in the region, saying, “We’ve experienced a significant increase in shootings and other violent incidents. This situation is unacceptable.”
The sheriff is listed as a defendant in a lawsuit alleging that his office conducted raids beyond its legal jurisdiction. One claimed incident involved the alleged destruction of an 86-year-old woman’s garden.
The Round Valley Indian Tribes and three individuals—April James, Eunice Swearinger, and Steve Britton—have filed a request for a federal court injunction to halt further raids on their land. In addition to Sheriff Kendall, the lawsuit also names Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal, a Humboldt deputy, California Highway Patrol Commissioner Sean Duryee, and both Mendocino and Humboldt counties. The plaintiffs argue that multiple operations targeted their reservation unlawfully.
Lester Marston, one of the attorneys representing the plaintiffs, contended that Sheriff Kendall attempted to exert authority over tribal lands incorrectly during the raids. He criticized the sheriff’s understanding of his jurisdiction, saying, “He has attended training sessions about his authority, so if he doesn’t understand it, he is inept.”
Marston further alleged that Kendall failed to disclose in his warrant application that some of these raids would occur on tribal land. In response, Kendall cited that the Round Valley area is estimated to harbor around a million marijuana plants, asserting that drug cartels have invested heavily in illicit cultivation operations.
Kendall shared satellite images with Fox News Digital that he claims show numerous structures associated with marijuana growing throughout the area. He described Round Valley as increasingly troubled by illicit cannabis, cartel activities, and associated violent incidents.
“At present, I believe drug trafficking organizations have established a foothold in that area as well as other locations in my county,” Kendall noted. He pointed out that illegal marijuana cultivation is decreasing due to low market prices, while illegal operations in Round Valley seem to be escalating.
The core of the lawsuit revolves around Public Law 280, a law that grants California and a select number of other states authority to enforce criminal laws on tribal lands. However, the plaintiffs’ attorneys argue that this statute does not apply to regulatory matters such as cannabis, which is tightly regulated in California.
The plaintiffs contend that the Round Valley Tribe possesses the right to formulate and enforce its own laws. This statute has led to a limited federal criminal jurisdiction in most reservations across six states while significantly broadening state jurisdiction.
David Dehnert, another attorney for the plaintiffs, explained, “He has a responsibility to enforce criminal law on the reservation but lacks authority over California’s regulatory laws there, which is the basis of their operations.”
Dehnert highlighted the existence of the tribe’s marijuana regulations, asserting that Sheriff Kendall was aware of these regulations before executing the raids. Following the raids, he sent Kendall a cease-and-desist letter.
Marston emphasized that Kendall acted beyond his legal reach, equating his actions to enforcing California laws in Nevada. He noted that the tribe has enacted laws prohibiting the cultivation, sale, and possession of cannabis unless it is for medical purposes only.
The raids took place in July 2024, during which plaintiffs claim that deputies left residences and gardens in disarray. James, a grandmother suffering from arthritis and a degenerative disc disorder, utilized cannabis to create medicinal creams that help alleviate her pain. The lawsuit alleges that her plants, cultivated on her trust allotment, were destroyed by deputies.
At Swearinger’s residence, sheriff’s deputies reportedly destroyed her vegetable garden, tearing out plants while her grandchildren looked on. Her attorneys noted that she held a valid license to grow ten plants on her property.
Britton, a rancher, further alleged that sheriff’s deputies destroyed cultivation structures, fencing, equipment, and an electric gate on his land. In all raids mentioned, the lawsuit contends that authorities could not present valid search warrants.
The Round Valley Indian Tribes did not respond to requests for comment. Sheriff Kendall asserted that he has a duty to ensure safety in the county, pushing back against claims suggesting the raids had a racial component. “That’s complete nonsense,” he said emphatically, dismissing such allegations as unfounded.
He further explained that, having grown up in the Round Valley area, he did not personally choose which properties to raid, stating that the focus was on the most significant illegal growth operations.
Controversies Continue Amid Ongoing Legal Disputes
The contentious nature of the situation serves as a stark reminder of the complexities surrounding cannabis regulation, tribal rights, and law enforcement in California. As legal challenges unfold, the balance between safeguarding public safety and respecting tribal sovereignty remains a pressing issue that stakeholders will continue to navigate.
