Ridgecrest, CA – On January 28, 2025, at about 0100 hours, the RPD communications center received a report of gunfire in the 500 block of W. Atkins Avenue. Our night shift officers immediately responded to the area, arriving in only a few minutes.
As they entered the area, a vehicle was observed leaving the area of the reported gunfire. When the officer made a U-turn to take a closer look, a male subject (juvenile) fled on foot from the vehicle.
The officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and detained its remaining occupants, including Jaren Michael Hoff. Once they were detained, the officers set out to locate the suspect who fled. Using age-old tracking techniques, the officers were able to locate the juvenile nearby.
The investigation led the officers to two nearby homes. Based on the information gathered in the investigation, a search warrant was written for both homes connected to Adrian Valenzuela (20 years old of Ridgecrest) and April Marie Porsch (51 years old of Ridgecrest).
Joined by detectives from the Investigation Unit, the warrant was served at about 0345 hours. Upon entering the first home, the officer located an active butane Honey oil lab and an elaborate drug packaging operation that used most of the space in the house.
Officers and Detectives located 10 firearms as well illicit drugs inside the residence, with a street value of just under $500,000:
- Psilocybin Mushrooms – 2.3 lb
- Methamphetamine – 10 lb
- Powdered Fentanyl- 3.25 lb
- Pressed Fentanyl Pills – 20,000 pills
- Marijuana – 31 lb
- Illegal Marijuana Vape Pens- 3,535 ct.
- Marijuana Wax – 9.6 lb
When the search warrant was served at the second home, officers contacted Celia Espinoza (42 years old of Ridgecrest). Upon contact, Espinoza attempted to conceal a large amount of currency ($60,000) with an eight-year-old child. Further investigation revealed the drug operation was a family affair, as Espinoza, Valenzuela’s mother, was equally engaged in the large-scale drug distribution operation.
For perspective regarding the powder fentanyl- the CDC reports as little as 2 milligrams of fentanyl can be deadly. That said, the 3.25 pounds (1,474,175 milligrams) of powder fentanyl could be used for 737,000 lethal doses.
SUSPECT(S):
Celia Espinoza- 42-year-old Female Ridgecrest Resident
- PC 273A(A) – Child Cruelty
- PC 148(a) – Obstruct Public Officer
- PC 182(a)(1) – Conspiracy
- HS 11366 – Keep Place to Sell Controlled Substances
Adrian Valenzuela – 20-year-old Male Ridgecrest Resident
- HS 11366 – Keep Place to Sell Controlled Substances
- HS 11378 – Possession of a Controlled Substance for Sale
- HS 11351 – Possession of Narcotics for Sales
- HS 11379.6(a) – Manufacture Controlled Substances
- PC 32625(b) – Possession of a Machine Gun
- PC 33410 – Possession of a Silencer
- PC 30605(a) – Possession of an Assault Weapon
Jaren Michael Hoff – 20-year-old Male Ridgecrest Resident
- PC 29800(a)(1) – Felon in Possession of a Firearm
- PC 30305(a)(1) – Possession of Ammunition by Felon
April Marie Porsch – 51-year-old Female Ridgecrest Resident
- PC 29800(a)(1) – Felon is Possession of a Firearm
- PC 30305(a)(1) – Possession of Ammunition by Felon
- HS 11364 – Possession of Paraphernalia
Name Withheld- 17-year-old Male Ridgecrest Resident
- PC 245(a)(2) – Assault with Firearm on Person
- PC 148(a)(1) – Obstruct Officer
- PC 29610 – Minor in Possession of Handgun
- PC 29820(b) – Possession of Firearm by Juvenile
- PC 246.3(a) – Willful Discharge of Firearm
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