A 21-year old Bakersfield woman arrested in January on felony charges
stemming from a methamphetamine laboratory in an upscale Bakersfield
neighborhood accepted a misdemeanor conviction Thursday in a plea
bargain.
But while Dulce Corina Castillo settled her case, a new felony case was
begun against Antonio Arellano, 32 in connection with the same
investigation.
Arellano pleaded innocent Thursday to six charges involving conspiracy,
manufacture of methamphetamine, disposal of hazardous wastes and managing
a house where drugs were manufactured.
He remains in custody in lieu of $250,000 bail. He faces a preliminary
hearing June 22 in Bakersfield Municipal Court.
Arellano was arrested earlier this month in Delano by sheriff’s
deputies checking on a disturbance of the peace in Castillo’s home.
Officers found him hiding under a bed, investigation reports say.
He also faces unrelated drug charges in Tulare County, said Deputy
District Attorney Joy Lane.
The Bakersfield case began Jan. 20, when Castillo was arrested at 7401
Calle Los Manzanos in the Las Palmas neighborhood, where homes sell for
$260,000.
Investigator found a laboratory capable of manufacturing up to 12
pounds of methamphetamine at a time.
Castillo was released on bail after spending 12 days in jail, said
defense attorney Kyle Humphrey. When she entered the plea agreement
Thursday she was sentenced to time already served, he said.
Sheriff’s Cmdr. Hal Chealander said at the time of Castillo’s arrest
that it was very unusual to find such a large laboratory in a residential
area.
