Three People Arrested on Illegal-Cannabis Charges in Covelo in the Area of a July 9 Fatal Shooting
The arrests occurred a day after a 31-year-old woman was found fatally shot on the same block and a 911 hangup was logged from the same address.
Update: The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed The arrests of Jesus Hernandez Sosa, Franklin Ironbear Oliver, and Laura Gabriela Menta were all related to the illicit marijuana cultivation operation that investigators located at the property in the 22000 block of Rifle Range Road where the homicide was reported on 7/09/2026.(July 13, 2026 3:47 p.m.)
Three people were arrested on July 10 on suspicion of illegal marijuana cultivation on the 22000 block of Rifle Range Road on the outskirts of northwest Covelo. The night before a 31-year-old mother of four was found fatally wounded by multiple gunshots on the same block at what authorities described in a press release as “a large illicit marijuana cultivation.”
The individuals were arrested on warrants signed by a judge on allegations that involved the unlicensed sale and cultivation of marijuana and illegal diversion of water. No one has been charged in the July 9 homicide, and authorities have not linked the arrests to the fatal shooting.
An arrest is not evidence of guilt. Being booked into jail means only that officers believed there was cause to make an arrest. It is not a criminal charge, much less a conviction. All three individuals are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
According to police records, the following individuals were booked into Mendocino County Jail on July 10:
Laura Gabriela Menta, 46, on suspicion of cultivating marijuana with an illegal water diversion, possession of marijuana for sale, renting or leasing a place to distribute a controlled substance, and possession of a controlled substance.
Franklin Ironbear Oliver, 36, on suspicion of cultivating marijuana with an illegal water diversion, possession of marijuana for sale, renting or leasing a place to distribute a controlled substance, and a felony probation violation.
Jesus Hernandez Sosa, 35, on suspicion of cultivating marijuana with an illegal water diversion, possession of marijuana for sale, and maintaining a place for selling or using drugs.
Court records showed none of the three was listed for arraignment on July 13, and police records did not list a bail amount for any of the three people.
A MendoLocal.News analysis of individuals recently arraigned in Mendocino County Superior Court found that the typical arrest-to-arraignment gap is ~3–5 weeks.
The 22000 block of Rifle Range Road is a rural byway flanked by fields. According to Mendocino County assessor records, it contains nine parcels across seven addresses.
The arrests occurred on 22550 Rifle Range Road. According to assessor records, the owner lives in residential home in Stockton, CA.
The fatal shooting remains under investigation.
According to a press release from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the 22000 block of Rifle Range Road after dispatchers received a 911 call from a woman who reported finding a deceased family member. Logs link an 8:58 p.m. 911 hangup call to 22550 Rifle Range Road.
Deputies found the victim — identified by her family as Josepha Littlewolf Thunderheart Basurto, 31 — inside a silver 2007 Toyota Tacoma pickup with what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds.
The sheriff’s office later stated in a press release that multiple suspects appear to have been involved. They are requesting people with information to call the tip line at 707-234-2100.
Basurto was remembered by her family as a loving mother of four children between the ages of 4 and 13. She was also a skilled horse trainer and a California Native and powwow dancer.
The family has launched a GoFundMe to cover funeral costs and travel for family members coming from Utah, as well as other expenses associated with Basurto’s killing.