High School Wrestling Coach Arrested for Marijuana Crimes

A wrestling coach in Colorado is out on bail after being charged with drug possession, cultivation, and distribution of marijuana.

Arnold Martinez, an assistant wrestling coach at Greely West High School, was arrested after investigators discovered his involvement in an alleged multimillion-dollar marijuana operation.

Authorities seized more than 1,000 marijuana plants and 47 pounds of marijuana--worth an estimated $1.15 million--on Martinez's property in LaPorte, Colorado.  Police believed the marijuana operation netted over $3 million every three months. According to Larimer County sheriff's spokeswoman Eloise Campanella, the majority of the harvested marijuana was sold in California. 

Investigators obtained records that indicated Martinez purchased equipment necessary for marijuana cultivation, such as a $25,000 electric generator and grow lights.

Records also show that Martinez was convicted of felony marijuana charges in 1994. School officials said they knew of Martinez's drug record when he was hired. They said they were allowed to hire people with a felony record for non-teaching jobs, however district spokesman Roger Fiedler said it's "not typical" to hire someone with a felony conviction.  Martinez was never a teacher; he was solely an assistant coach for the school wrestling team.

In addition to Martinez, two other men were arrested in connection with the case.

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