Sheriff Addresses Controversial Cannabis Raid on Tribal Lands

The sheriff of Mendocino County has responded after facing accusations regarding his authority following a raid on a cannabis farm situated on tribal land last year.

Sheriff Matthew Kendall explained that members of the tribe had asked for assistance to tackle illegal cannabis operations and related criminal activities. He emphasized that many incidents his office deals with occur outside tribal lands.

“They’re practically pleading with me. It’s about protecting everyone—tribe members and non-tribe members alike. I have to uphold the law, but when I execute a search warrant, I risk being sued,” he stated.

Kendall described the economic situation as dire, suggesting it creates a fertile ground for criminal activities, particularly those linked to drug cartels. “There’s a lot of gunfire, a lot of violence. It’s unacceptable,” he remarked.

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Kendall has been named as a defendant in a lawsuit alleging that he overstepped his jurisdiction when his actions allegedly led to the destruction of an elderly woman’s cannabis garden.

The Round Valley Indian Tribe, along with plaintiffs April James, 48, Eunice Sweeringer, 86, and Steve Britton, have approached a federal court to seek an injunction preventing further raids by the sheriff’s department on their land.

The lawsuit also names Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal as well as other state officials, claiming that illegal enforcement actions took place on tribal reservations.

Leicester Marston, representing the plaintiffs, argued that Kendall attempted to impose authority over the tribe’s land during the raid.

Contention Over Jurisdiction

Marston stated that Kendall should have known about the limitations of his jurisdiction, insisting that failing to recognize this was irresponsible. He also claimed that Kendall did not inform the judge about the likelihood of the raid occurring on tribal land.

Kendall pointed out that there are approximately one million marijuana plants in the valley, suggesting that drug cartels invest heavily in strategies to cultivate marijuana in the area.

He cited that illegal activities and violent crime related to drug trafficking are prevalent in Round Valley.

“Currently, illegal cultivation is on the rise due to significantly low prices,” Kendall noted. “The situation is becoming increasingly severe,” he added.

The lawsuit challenges the enforcement of Public Law 280, a law that has been in effect for decades in California and several other states. The plaintiffs argue that this law does not apply to the regulatory issues faced by the tribe.

Further complicating matters, they assert that Round Valley should have the autonomy to set and enforce its own laws. Public Law 280 does limit federal jurisdiction on many reservations but broadens state authority.

“He is bound by law to enforce criminal regulations on reservations,” stated David Denert, another attorney for the plaintiffs. “However, he cannot enforce California’s regulations on tribal lands, which is what he attempted.” Denert contended that the tribe had its own marijuana laws, which Kendall allegedly knew prior to the raid.

As per Marston, Kendall’s actions were akin to trying to enforce California laws in Nevada, essentially stepping beyond his legal boundaries.

According to Marston, tribes have established laws that restrict the sale, ownership, and cultivation of cannabis except for medical use.

The reported raid from July 2024 left the plaintiffs claiming they returned home to find their gardens devastated. James, who suffers from various health issues, had been growing cannabis to create therapeutic cream for her pain relief. Her garden was reportedly destroyed, pushed into a pile of dirt by a tractor.

Swearinger also faced a similar situation, as deputies demolished her garden in front of her grandson. She only had a license to cultivate a limited number of plants on her property.

Britton claimed the deputies caused significant damage to his operation, including fences and equipment. The lawsuit claims that in all instances, valid search warrants were not established.

While attempts to reach the Round Valley tribes for comment were unsuccessful, Kendall maintained his commitment to ensuring safety in his county, dismissing claims of racial bias in the raids as “complete lies.” He insisted that he did not personally choose which properties were targeted during the operation.