One man arrested in connection with a major marijuana growing operation in Escalon has been released from jail while the other still remains in custody.
Khamsao Sychampanakhone, 57, posted bond and was released while nephew Cola Sychampanakhone, 41, is being held in connection with the Escalon case and on a no bail felony parole hold by the United States Border Patrol.
Following a court appearance for both men on Friday, Oct. 5, further court action has been scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 16. A pre-preliminary conference is scheduled for that date.
The two were arrested near the site of an illegal marijuana grow off Highway 120 at Brennan Road on Friday, Sept. 21. Police seized more than six dozen marijuana plants, an estimated $5,000 in cash and uprooted the operation.
The grow was hidden behind strawberry fields, in amongst corn and grapevines in the 17000 block of South Brennan Road. Some of the plants were being harvested, and a drying room was also in use on the property.
Cola Sychampanakhone is from Sacramento and Khamsao Sychampanakhone had an address out of St. Cloud, Minnesota. When booked into San Joaquin County Jail following their arrest, Cola was charged with felony planting and cultivation of marijuana, felony possession of marijuana for sale and felony conspiracy to commit a crime. Bail on those charges was set at $200,000 but authorities said he was also wanted by the Border Patrol.
Khamsao was jailed on $200,000 bail for felony planting and cultivation of marijuana, felony possession of marijuana for sale and felony conspiracy to commit a crime. Another $5,000 in bail was added on an Orange County Sheriff's Department warrant for misdemeanor vehicle violations. He posted bond and was released on Sept. 29, said authorities.
Meanwhile, Escalon Police were called to the 600 block of California Street early Tuesday, just as The Times was going to press, to a report of a suspicious circumstance, a possible pipe bomb found underneath a vehicle.
Officials said the situation was being assessed and the item under the car appeared to be cigar-sized, wrapped in tape with a fuse on one end. The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Department bomb squad was enroute to the scene at press time. Authorities said the item was called in by a resident just after 8 a.m. and as a precautionary measure, the residential street was being blocked off while the investigation was ongoing.
Khamsao Sychampanakhone, 57, posted bond and was released while nephew Cola Sychampanakhone, 41, is being held in connection with the Escalon case and on a no bail felony parole hold by the United States Border Patrol.
Following a court appearance for both men on Friday, Oct. 5, further court action has been scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 16. A pre-preliminary conference is scheduled for that date.
The two were arrested near the site of an illegal marijuana grow off Highway 120 at Brennan Road on Friday, Sept. 21. Police seized more than six dozen marijuana plants, an estimated $5,000 in cash and uprooted the operation.
The grow was hidden behind strawberry fields, in amongst corn and grapevines in the 17000 block of South Brennan Road. Some of the plants were being harvested, and a drying room was also in use on the property.
Cola Sychampanakhone is from Sacramento and Khamsao Sychampanakhone had an address out of St. Cloud, Minnesota. When booked into San Joaquin County Jail following their arrest, Cola was charged with felony planting and cultivation of marijuana, felony possession of marijuana for sale and felony conspiracy to commit a crime. Bail on those charges was set at $200,000 but authorities said he was also wanted by the Border Patrol.
Khamsao was jailed on $200,000 bail for felony planting and cultivation of marijuana, felony possession of marijuana for sale and felony conspiracy to commit a crime. Another $5,000 in bail was added on an Orange County Sheriff's Department warrant for misdemeanor vehicle violations. He posted bond and was released on Sept. 29, said authorities.
Meanwhile, Escalon Police were called to the 600 block of California Street early Tuesday, just as The Times was going to press, to a report of a suspicious circumstance, a possible pipe bomb found underneath a vehicle.
Officials said the situation was being assessed and the item under the car appeared to be cigar-sized, wrapped in tape with a fuse on one end. The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Department bomb squad was enroute to the scene at press time. Authorities said the item was called in by a resident just after 8 a.m. and as a precautionary measure, the residential street was being blocked off while the investigation was ongoing.
