A Vancouver man appeared Monday in Clark County Superior Court following a disturbance during an Easter egg hunt that led officers to a large-scale unlicensed pot operation. Two other men, who were arrested in connection with the operation, appeared in District Court on warrants out of Missouri.
Charles J. Yorkovich, 24, made a first appearance in Superior Court on suspicion of possession of marijuana with the intent to deliver stemming from the Saturday evening incident in Salmon Creek.
Joseph E. Sullivan, 24, and Jordan M. Long, 27, both of Vancouver, appeared in District Court on fugitive from justice allegations. They had not been charged in connection with the pot operation as of Monday afternoon. The men are accused in Missouri of possessing a controlled substance except 35 grams or less of marijuana — a class C felony. Both denied the allegation and did not waive extradition or identification, meaning Missouri must prove the crime occurred and that Sullivan and Long are the wanted suspects.
Bail was set at $100,000 each for Sullivan and Long. They will be back in court April 27.
Law enforcement officers were dispatched shortly after 6 p.m. Saturday to investigate a report that the neighborhood Easter egg hunt had been interrupted by a man screaming that his roommates were going to shoot him, according to a news release from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
Officers learned that the disturbance was related to a marijuana distribution headquartered in a nearby home at 13318 N.E. Second Court, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Superior Court. One of the men allegedly involved had a large quantity of marijuana in his vehicle and a box full of cash, some of which allegedly belonged to Yorkovich, the affidavit said.
“It is believed that deliveries were occurring across the United States” from that pot operation, the news release said.
Detectives with the Clark Vancouver Regional Drug Task Force obtained a search warrant for the home and four vehicles. During their search of Yorkovich’s bedroom, they reportedly found two large plastic containers full of gallon-sized plastic bags containing marijuana, court records said.
In total, officers seized 45 pounds of processed marijuana, which has a street value of more than $202,000, police said. Detectives also found more than $108,000 in suspected drug proceeds at the scene. No guns were recovered, police said.
The drug task force is investigating the case.
On Monday, Superior Judge Scott Collier told Yorkovich that he does not qualify for a court-appointed attorney and must hire his own. The prosecution requested Yorkovich be held on $100,000 bail.
“I’m a taxpaying citizen and would like a lower bail so I can get out and work,” Yorkovich told the judge. Collier set bail at $75,000.
Yorkovich will be arraigned April 8.
