The Kern County Sheriff’s Office discovered an illegal marijuana cultivation operation in a remote desert area near 150th Street West and Irone Avenue on Thursday, Dec. 11, authorities said.

Deputies from the Rosamond substation were patrolling the area about 10:45 a.m. when they observed a large tarped and fenced-off site containing makeshift greenhouses, according to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office.

As deputies approached, they encountered two adult male suspects, one of whom was armed with a short-barreled AR-15-style rifle with a high-capacity magazine.

Both suspects were safely detained without injury, and deputies secured the firearms, the sheriff’s office said. A search warrant was obtained, and a search of the property uncovered 562 marijuana plants, harvested marijuana, multiple gas generators and chemicals commonly used in marijuana cultivation.

Deputies also determined the AR-15-style rifle was a “ghost gun” with no serial numbers and recovered an additional pistol at the scene, authorities said.

Jose Herrera-Torres and Elutereo Torres-Calderon were arrested and booked into the Mojave Jail on multiple charges, including exhibiting a firearm to resist arrest, conspiracy, possession and manufacture of a short-barreled rifle, owning a firearm without a serial number, illegal possession of an assault rifle and large-capacity magazine, and possession and cultivation of marijuana for sale, the sheriff’s office said.

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