Accused pot farmer charged with felonies

The man accused of operating a large-scale marijuana growing operation in Glenn County has pleaded innocent to multiple felony charges.

Ricky The Chu, 35, is charged with possessing and cultivating marijuana for sale and stealing the electricity needed to operate. He entered his plea Friday in Glenn County Superior Court.

The Glenn County Inter-agency Narcotics Task Force seized nearly 1,300 marijuana plants from the basement of 201 W. Sycamore St. on Jan. 7. They also took about $60,000 in cultivation equipment, task force Cmdr. Curt Parks said.

Narcotics agents arrested Chu the following day in the 3000 block of Highway 99W in Artois. Agents seized an additional 306 marijuana plants at the Artois residence, narcotics authorities said.

Parks estimates the total value of both growing operations at about $1.6 million, based upon the plants’ value at maturity.

Chu has a number of known connections to China and is considered a high flight risk, according to authorities. Court documents say he met the mother of his 3-year-old child there.

Chu remained in custody Monday in lieu of $500,000 bail.