The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office is seeking a Kerman man on felony narcotics charges in connection with large marijuana grow discovered at his home.  Wanted is 31 year old Matthew Crippen.

Acting on a tip, yesterday afternoon detectives responded to Crippen’s residence located in the 13500 block of W Annadale Ave near the City of Kerman.  

There, detectives discovered the hothouse grow directly behind the house.  Detectives detained four Hispanic males who were actively trimming the buds off several of the mature marijuana plants.  

During the investigation, it was learned the four subjects had been contacted by Crippen outside a store in Rolinda, and offered a daily wage to trim the plants.  Once the subjects drove into the property to start work, they were unable to leave as the gates were locked.  Pit bulls also guarded the property and house.

Inside the hothouse, detectives eradicated 540 marijuana plants.  Nine pounds of processed marijuana was also seized, along with ten rifles and one handgun.  Detectives did not locate any medical marijuana recommendation cards during the search.

The four subjects detained were eventually released.  However, Crippen is now wanted on charges of marijuana cultivation, possession of marijuana for sales, and being armed during the commission of a felony.  

Crippen will also be cited on the new ordinance which prohibits the growing of marijuana in Fresno County. 

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Matthew Crippen is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 600-3111, or CrimeStoppers at 498-STOP(7867).

The Sheriff’s Office wants to remind the public that state and federal laws, along with County ordinances, prohibits the cultivation of marijuana in Fresno County and will be aggressively enforced.