Breaking News: Frazier Park Man Arrested in Castaic Drug Bust

UPDATE–FRAZIER PARK (Tuesday, NOv. 24, 2009, 6:17 a.m.)—Original booking documents secured by The Mountain Enterprise cite James Stearns, 49—not 'Sterns'—as the name of the Frazier Park man arrested in Castaic on possession of methamphetamine for sale charges last Thursday, Nov. 19. Investigation by this newspaper reveals that the initial news releases from Los Angeles County regarding this case misspelled Stearns' name.The 2008  Mountain Communities phonebook for Frazier Park also lists a James Stearns. That number was acquired three months ago by another family.  We also found four Kern County arrests of a James Stearns, 49 (born in 1960) on a long list of DUI and drug possession-related charges. One appears to have resulted in a two year jail sentence.Stearns is being held by Los Angeles County in lieu of $30,000 bail.

CASTAIC (Friday, Nov. 20, 2009 - 2:35 p.m.)—Santa Clarita Valley sheriffs arrested James Sterns, 49 [NOTE: SEE UPDATE ABOVE, the booking document refers to James Stearns] of Frazier Park on Thursday, Nov. 19 after detectives served search warrants at two homes in Castaic. He was arrested for possession of methamphetamine for sale and is being held in lieu of $30,000 bail.

The homes that were searched are located in the 27500 block of Violin Canyon Drive and the 31400 block of Arrow Point. Detectives seized "three guns, a large amount of cash, and several ounces of methamphetamine," the Santa Clarita Valley sheriffs' press release reported. Detectives also found ten children, aged six months to 17 years.

Three residents of Castaic were arrested and transported to Santa Clarita Valley Station: Midalia Hernandez, 19 for possession of methamphetamine who is being held in lieu of $10,000 bail; Manuel Arciniega, 35 for possession of a fraudulent document who is being held in lieu of $20,000 bail; and Rafael Arciniega, 46 for possession of methamphetamine for sale who is being held in lieu of $30,000 bail.

The ten children were taken into protective custody and released to the Department of Children and Family Services for investigation and placement.

The investigation is ongoing and there is no further information available at this time.

This is part of the November 20, 2009 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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