Warrant uncovers French Valley chop shop and marijuana operations

June 21, 2019 Trevor Montgomery

FRENCH VALLEY — Four people were arrested when deputies serving a search warrant located stolen vehicles and an outdoor marijuana grow operation yesterday morning, Thursday, June 20. The search warrant that led to the arrests was served in the 32300 block of Yates Rd.

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Following a week-long investigation regarding the suspected illegal cultivation of marijuana, members of the Southwest Sheriff Station’s Special Enforcement Team served a search warrant at the rural property in the unincorporated area of French Valley, north of Temecula, Riverside Sheriff’s Sgt. Jon Wade later reported.

While serving the search warrant, deputies located “three large green houses, which had been erected on the property for the sole purpose of operating an illegal marijuana grow,” Wade explained. Deputies eventually seized more than 3,300 lbs. of marijuana plants from the property.

Southwest Station Special Enforcement Team members arrested four people, including Jesse Hobkirk and Ruben Renteria, while serving a search warrant in French Valley. RSO booking photos

Deputies also located two stolen vehicles, including one inside a garage and another on the property. Both vehicles were in different stages of being stripped, according to Wade.

Six people were detained during the service of the warrant, including four who were ultimately arrested for a variety of criminal offenses.

Hobkirk, Jesse (3/14/94) Running a “chop shop” operation, maintaining a drug house, illegal cultivation of marijuana
Renteria, Ruben (1/5/69) Felony warrant for drug violations, possession of stolen property (stolen vehicle)
Wilson, Britain (11/23/65) Illegal cultivation of marijuana
Aguilar, Jose Luis (1/25/93) Illegal cultivation of marijuana

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact the Southwest Station’s Special Enforcement Team at (951) 696-3000. Callers can refer to incident file number SW190710028 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 47, moved last year to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle, and Anza Valley Outlook; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 28 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 15 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.