Costa Mesa man suspected of growing drugs

Deepa Bharath

COSTA MESA -- Police arrested a 45-year-old Costa Mesa man early

Monday morning on suspicion of growing and possessing marijuana and

illegally diverting electricity to powerful grow lamps, officials said.

Edward Jiro Blanco was charged with cultivation of marijuana, theft of

utility services and removal of a service line.

Police initially responded to a disturbance-related call in the 2100

block of Kristin Lane about 2:45 a.m. Monday, but discovered the plants

in an upstairs bedroom of the townhouse as they were conducting the

investigation, said Costa Mesa Police Lt. Dale Birney.

Narcotics detectives seized 32 marijuana plants that added up to four

pounds of high-grade marijuana, five large grow lamps and $12,800 in cash

hidden away in a light fixture.

Birney said investigators also found 200 empty pots they suspect

contained marijuana plants that were harvested recently.

According to police, electricity for the operation had been pirated

from a main line into the house.

Southern California Edison officials have estimated the fraud to be

more than $10,000 since 1999.

“These are huge lights,” Birney said. “They are also powerful because

they have to simulate sunlight. They are usually very bright and very

hot.”

Neighbors, however, did not seem to have a clue about what was going

on inside the townhome until police got in, Birney said.

Blanco is being held in Costa Mesa jail with bail set at $50,000.

While cultivating marijuana is a felony and removal of service lines

is a misdemeanor, theft of utilities could be considered either a

misdemeanor or a felony, Birney said.

If convicted of the charges, Blanco faces time in state prison.

* Deepa Bharath covers public safety and courts. She may be reached at

(949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at o7 deepa.bharath@latimes.comf7 .