Redding traffic stop leads to honey oil lab bust

November 22, 2020 Trevor Montgomery

REDDING, Calif. — Authorities say two men were arrested after a Redding traffic stop uncovered various items related to the production of honey oil – a cannabis concentrate obtained by the extraction of an oleoresin from cannabis or hashish – Saturday morning, Nov. 21.

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The pair was arrested after a Shasta County sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic enforcement stop on a vehicle in the 9500 block of Old Oregon Trail around 8 a.m., Shasta County Sheriff’s Sgt. Scoma later said of the incident and arrest.

While the deputy was speaking with the driver and passenger, since identified as Josiah Jacob Layoff, 25, and Caleb Benjamin Nesslage, 37, both of Redding, he noticed a large stainless steel tube with a green leafy residue on it inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle and smelled the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.

“The deputy recognized the tube as an ‘Extraction tube,’ a main component of a Butane Honey Oil (BHO) production lab,” explained Scoma.

Caleb Benjamin Nesslage and Josiah Jacob Layoff were arrested after a traffic stop and subsequent residence searches uncovered everything needed to operate an illicit butane honey oil lab. SCSO photos

“When additional deputies arrived, both occupants of the vehicle were searched and detained,” said Scoma; adding, “During the search, deputies located a fixed blade knife concealed in Layoff’s waistband.”

While searching the vehicle, deputies located multiple cases of butane, marijuana trimmings, and all the components necessary for a BHO production lab to operate.

Based on the deputies’ findings, Shasta Interagency Narcotics Task Force (SINTF) agents responded to the location and assumed the investigation, conducting follow up investigation and searches at both Layoff and Nesslage’s residences.

“While searching Nesslage’s residence, Agents located various pieces of equipment used in the production and packaging of BHO as well as ammunition,” said Scoma; who explained that as a convicted felon Nesslage is prohibited from possessing ammunition.

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Based on their investigation and findings, officials arrested Nesslage and Layoff and both were later booked into Shasta County Jail in Redding on suspicion of intent to manufacture a controlled substance and conspiracy to commit a felony.

Additionally, Nesslage was charged with possession of ammunition by a prohibited person and Layoff was also charged with possession of a concealed dirk/dagger.

Online jail records indicate both men remain in custody in lieu of $500,000 bail or bond.

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Trevor Montgomery, 49, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, (the now defunct) Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; 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 30 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 18 grandchildren.