New 'Lubben Ranch' Owner Was Arrested for Running Illegal Marijuana Grow Operation

Springville, Calif. -- The web of intrigue surrounding disgraced anti-porn crusader and minister Shelley Lubben continues to grow, with suspicions that her Springville, California 'Lubben Ranch' may have become a site for marijuana cultivation.

Shelley Lubben's Balch Park Road residence

In May 2015, Shelley's then-husband, Garrett, purchased the 598,000 sq. ft. property on Balch Park Road.  Shelley soon began an affair with a worker at the ranch, Joe Valley, while her husband was away. Garrett later filed for divorce and the property was deeded to Shelley in July 2016. 

With creditors snapping at her heels, she immediately began looking for a buyer.

Discover Card filed suit against Shelley Lubben in Porterville in 2017

She eventually found Sirjoe Carmona, 27, of Visalia and Ivanhoe, California. In June of 2017, he purchased the Springville property from Shelley Lubben for $100,000 down and a $200,000 promissory note.

Lubben and Joe Valley stayed on as tenants, and Valley was arrested Nov. 7 after police say he ran down a cyclist on the way home while under the influence of alcohol. He is currently in a Visalia jailhouse awaiting trial.

Lubben's new landlord, Sirjoe Carmona has an interesting background, which includes a farm labor contracting business, and a 2014 arrest in Visalia for possession of a large quantity of marijuana for sales, and cultivation of marijuana. 70 lbs. of processed marijuana was confiscated along with 233 plants.

The marijuana grow operation was located at his residence, 1314 N. Divisadero in Visalia.

Suspicion

Recently, Tulare County has sought to inspect his property, going so far as to file for an abatement warrant.

Presumably the authorities expect to find something there.

Springville and nearby Porterville residents say they had suspected that the Lubben Ranch property on Balch Park Road was being used to grow marijuana long before Lubben sold it.

Interestingly, Shelley's ex-husband, Garrett, confirms that she acquired a medical marijuana card, after years of publicly decrying the smoking of cannabis.

TAG, you're it

Illegal marijuana grow sites have plagued the Springville area for some time. 

In July 2017, Detectives with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office TAGNET (Tulare Area Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team) Unit conducted overflights in the Springville mountain area for illegal clandestine marijuana grow sites.

During the overflight, Detectives located large clandestine marijuana grow sites in the Wishon and Cabbage Head area above Springville.

On August 15, Detectives with the TAGNET Unit conducted an operation to eradicate the illegal marijuana grow site with the assistance of the U.S. Forest Service and CAMP Task Force.

While eradicating the illegal grow sites, Detectives located numerous chemicals, a large amount of trash and the disruption of the natural waterways in the area. Detectives also located a camp site, however; they were unable to locate any information on the identity of the suspect(s) responsible for the illegal marijuana grow.

During the operation, 27,177 marijuana plants were eradicated and destroyed.

Will Tulare County soon find another grow operation in Springville?

The investigation into illegal marijuana grow sites is ongoing and anyone with information is encouraged to call the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office at (559) 733-6218 or they can remain anonymous by calling TIPNOW at (559) 725-4194 or send an email to tcso@tipnow.com.

Joe Valley Faces Prosecution For 'Serious Felony': Criminal Complaint

Shelley Lubben's boyfriend will likely be unable to plea bargain

Springville, Calif. -- Joseph Valley, the live-in boyfriend of disgraced anti-porn crusader and minister Shelley Lubben, faces two felony charges in Tulare County Superior Court.

Valley was arrested Tuesday Nov. 7 after he allegedly struck and killed a 51-year old cyclist less than 2 miles from the Lubben ranch property. 

Witnesses say Joe Valley was already intoxicated when he arrived at a local bar, and was cut off from ordering more alcohol before he allegedly ran down the cyclist driving Shelley Lubben's car and fled the scene.

Joseph Valley. Courtesy: Tulare County Sheriff's Office

The hit-and-run collision occurred at Balch Park Road and Battle Mountain Road in Springville at around 4:40 p.m. Tuesday.

According to the California Highway Patrol, 27-year-old Valley hit the cyclist while driving a silver 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser with a convertible top. A witness at the scene saw Valley take off "up Balch Park Road to his house" after the collision. The cyclist died at the scene.

A United Parcel Service driver had discovered Mr. Muguia in the road. After witnesses reported seeing a PT Cruiser with a broken windshield and significant front end damage, the UPS driver directed law enforcement to a nearby house where a PT Cruiser was normally parked: the Lubben Ranch.

Highway Patrol officers discovered Valley on the ranch property, and he explained that the damage too the vehicle was the result of hitting an animal.

The CHP officers arrested Valley and took him to jail. But because Lubben had already left, they were initially unable to interview her.

Valley, who has a prior criminal record, was booked later that night, and held on $100,000 bail.

A blood draw revealed Valley’s blood alcohol content at .26 percent, the District Attorney’s Office said. That was more than three times the legal limit of .08 percent.

District Attorney Tim Ward later filed criminal charges against Valley, upping his bail to $145,000. Joe Valley is being held at the Adult Pre-Trial Facility in Visalia.

The charges were followed by Ward's announcement of a $153,620 California Office of Traffic Safety grant. The grant will be used to help prosecute cases of drunken and impaired drivers.

"No one should be injured or lose their lives due to the reckless and risky behavior of a drunk driver," said Ward. "We look forward to continuing our focus on prosecuting this dangerous and avoidable crime."

A 'serious felony'

The criminal complaint filed Nov. 9 by the Tulare County district attorney charges Valley with felony hit-and-run driving resulting in death or serious bodily injury to another person, as well as the 'serious felony' gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.

The California Penal Code stipulates:

1192.7. (b) Plea bargaining in any case in which the indictment or information charges any serious felony, ... or any offense of driving while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, narcotics, or any other intoxicating substance, or any combination thereof, is prohibited....

1192.8. (a) For purposes of subdivision (c) of Section 1192.7, "serious felony" also means any violation of Section 191.5, paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 192, subdivision (a), (b), or (c) of Section 192.5 of this code, or Section 2800.3, subdivision (b) of Section 23104, or Section 23153 of the Vehicle Code, when any of these offenses involve the personal infliction of great bodily injury on any person other than an accomplice. . . . 

In addition, the complaint against Valley states that "the People hereby put the defendant on notice that the aggravated sentence may be sought in this case." 

California's “three strikes” law significantly increases the prison sentences of persons convicted of a felony who have been previously convicted of two or more violent crimes or serious felonies. The law also limits the ability of these offenders to receive a punishment other than a life sentence.

Valley does indeed have a prior criminal record.

Lubben and Valley met when her husband hired him to work at the Springville property in the spring of 2015. Shelley began an affair with Valley, and her husband later filed for divorce.

On Christmas eve 2015, Lubben phoned 911 and reported that Valley had sexually assaulted and battered her. She later recanted the sexual assault claim, but Valley served 90 days for domestic battery in Porterville.

The complaint

Joe Valley appeared in court Nov. 17 for a preliminary hearing setting. His next court date will be December 7, one month after the car he drove struck and killed the cyclist on Balch Park Road.

Shelley Lubben's Boyfriend Drank at Local Bar Before Fatal Hit-and-Run

Joe Valley was already intoxicated when he arrived, say locals

Springville, Calif. -- Joseph Valley, the live-in boyfriend of disgraced anti-porn crusader and minister Shelley Lubben, drank at a local bar before he allegedly ran down a motorist and fled the scene, according to sources in Springville.

Joe Valley

Valley was arrested Tuesday Nov. 7 after he allegedly struck and killed a 51-year old cyclist less than 2 miles from the Lubben ranch property. He is charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and hit-and-run driving, resulting in death or serious bodily injury to another person.

According to a patron of The Antlers Roadhouse, Joe Valley came into the bar that day already intoxicated, drank a shot of alcohol and was "cut off" by the bartender because he was so drunk.

Valley then attempted to leave without paying. The bartender followed him outside to have Joe pay the cheque.

Witnesses say Valley was "pretty drunk" by time he left the bar to head home.

Shelley stops by

The Antlers, located at 30990 Highway 190, Porterville, stands 16 miles down the road from the collision site.

When Shelley Lubben visited the bar today, Nov. 13 (after the original version of this article had been posted), employees informed her that Valley was already intoxicated when he arrived last Tuesday. They also mentioned that he had used Shelley's credit card to pay for his drink.

How well must this establishment know Shelley and Joe to permit him to use her card? According to a source, Shelley and Joe have been known to come in before,  adding that they would drink "a lot" and "she would dance like a stripper."

Lubben (accompanied by a local gal pal who had previously been 86'd from the bar) "acted surprised" to learn that Joe had already been drinking. Shelley claimed that he had stolen her card.

Yet, somehow it took Shelley nearly a week to investigate.

By distancing herself from Joe and proclaiming herself a victim, it appears that Shelley believes she can avoid being ostracized in the community.

Hit and run

The hit-and-run collision occurred at Balch Park Road and Battle Mountain Road in Springville at around 4:40 p.m. Tuesday. According to the California Highway Patrol, 27-year-old Valley hit the cyclist while driving a 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser with a convertible top. A witness at the scene saw Valley take off "up Balch Park Road to his house" after the collision.

The cyclist died at the scene.

Valley, who has a prior criminal record, was booked later that night, and held on $100,000 bail. District Attorney Tim Ward later filed criminal charges against Valley, and at his arrangement Nov. 9, his bail was increased to $145,000. He is currently being held at the Adult Pre-Trial Facility in Visalia.

Shelley Lubben and Joseph Valley on the road

The charges were followed by Ward's announcement of a $153,620 California Office of Traffic Safety grant. The grant will be used to help prosecute cases of drunken and impaired drivers.

"No one should be injured or lose their lives due to the reckless and risky behavior of a drunk driver," said Ward. "We look forward to continuing our focus on prosecuting this dangerous and avoidable crime."

Lubben and Valley met when her husband hired him to work at the Springville property in the spring of 2015. Shelley began an affair with Valley, and her husband later filed for divorce.

On Christmas eve 2015, Lubben phoned 911 and reported that Valley had sexually assaulted and battered her. She later recanted the sexual assault claim, but Valley served 90 days for domestic battery in Porterville.

[This post was updated and modified from its original version.]

Delay in Lubben Trial

Porterville, Calif -- The August 17, 2017 trial date in the criminal case that anti-porn scamster, perjurer and adulteress Shelley Lubben caused to be launched against her husband of two decades was postponed earlier this month. A preliminary hearing in Tulare County Superior Court is now set for August 28, at which the Lubbens' appearance will not be required.

Reader's note: the trial date was subsequently pushed all the way to January 2018.

If the charges against her ex are not summarily dismissed, a new trial date is expected to be set at the hearing. And so it will be there, in that unlikely spot, that a dreadful era might come to a close as Shelley Lubben will find herself on the witness stand in a criminal trial where her credibility and veracity are to be judged. On that as-yet-unannounced date, Shelley Lubben, the ever-vindictive "rebel prophet" of the (now defunct) Pink Cross Foundation, will try to see to it that her ex-husband is convicted of domestic battery.

As is the norm for her, Mrs. Lubben has changed her story since the alleged events of September 8 and October 8, 2015 -- signing a written declaration under penalty of perjury on November 5, 2015, then seeking to retract it after Garrett refused to reconcile with his pill-popping, abusive ex, or give her any more money.

Garrett Lubben, in a scene from Michael Whiteacre's documentary The Devil and Shelley Lubben

The case stands or falls on Shelley Lubben's credibility.

In February 2017, following a disastrous courtroom performance by Shelley, Garrett was exonerated of felony bribery charges initiated by his disgruntled ex in 2016, when Judge Michael B. Sheltzer ruled that the iPhone video clips directed and filmed by Shelley during her divorce negotiations with her then-husband did NOT capture an attempt to bribe Mrs. Lubben.

Insiders say that Mrs. Lubben is in for some big surprises at her husband's trial, as individuals from her past and present vie for spots on the witness stand to tell the jury all about who the accuser Shelley Lubben really is -- and what she is capable of.

It's truly difficult to overstate just how much her victims and other former associates have looked forward to the opportunity to place Mrs. Lubben's spectacular misdeeds on the public record whilst handing her yet another humiliating defeat (and possibly a perjury charge).

Updates to be posted as they become available.

Comes A Reckoning -- Shelley Lubben Faces Questioning Aug 17

Witnesses from near and far are lining up to testify about anti-porn crusader Shelley Lubben's (lack of) character

Porterville, Calif. -- If one believes in Divine Justice, one might be well advised to cast an eye toward Tulare County Superior Court on the morning of August 17, 2017. It will be there, in that unlikely spot, that a dreadful era might come to a close as anti-porn scamster, perjurer and adulteress Shelley Lubben will find herself on the witness stand in a criminal trial where her credibility and veracity are to be judged. On that date, Shelley Lubben, the ever-vindictive "rebel prophet" of the (now defunct) Pink Cross Foundation, will try to see to it that her ex-husband is convicted of domestic battery. As is the norm for her, Mrs. Lubben has changed her story since the alleged events of September 8 and October 8, 2015 -- signing a written declaration under penalty of perjury on November 5, 2015, then seeking to retract it after Garrett refused to get back together with his pill-popping, abusive ex, or give her any more money.

The case stands or falls on Shelley Lubben's credibility.

In February 2017, following a disastrous courtroom performance by Shelley, Garrett was exonerated of felony bribery charges initiated by his disgruntled ex in 2016, when Judge Michael B. Sheltzer ruled that the iPhone video clips directed and filmed by Shelley during her divorce negotiations with her then-husband did NOT capture an attempt to bribe Mrs. Lubben.

Insiders say that Mrs. Lubben is in for some big surprises in August, as people from her past and present vie for spots on the witness stand to tell the jury all about who the accuser Shelley Lubben really is -- and what she is capable of.

It's truly difficult to overstate just how much her victims and other former associates have looked forward to the opportunity to place Mrs. Lubben's spectacular misdeeds on the public record whilst handing her yet another humiliating defeat (and possibly a perjury charge).

Our own Michael Whiteacre will be in attendance, and will provide a full report right here at TheDevilAndShelleyLubben.blogspot.com .

Garrett Lubben, in a scene from Michael Whiteacre's documentary The Devil and Shelley Lubben

Shelley Lubben's Attempt To Set Up Ex for Felony Bribery Flops; Charges Dismissed

Porterville, Calif. -- In Tulare County Superior Court Monday morning, Garrett Lubben was exonerated of all felony charges initiated by his disgruntled ex when Judge Michael B. Sheltzer ruled that the iPhone video clips directed and filmed by Shelley during her divorce negotiations with her then-husband Garrett did NOT show an attempt to bribe Mrs. Lubben.

In his analysis, the Judge cited the California criminal statute in question, Penal Code Section 137(A), which requires:

1. any person to give or offer or promise to give a witness
2. something of value
3. with a corrupt intent
4. to influence the witness' testimony

Bribery is a specific intent crime. "Corrupt intent", the judge noted, requires that the person intends to induce the other party to commit an unlawful act, such as to lie or commit perjury.

However, Judge Sheltzer pointed out, Garrett had only asked that she exonerate him -- to come clean about what had happened -- he never asked her to lie.

The court chalked up the October 31, 2015 video clips as merely a record of their separation / divorce negotiations.

Lying her ass off

Shelley Lubben, clad in a pale pink pant suit, testified hysterically that she came forward with these charges a short while after the recordings were made. She brought them to the Tulare County sheriff on May 5, 2016, which just so happens to be a week after Garrett blocked her calls and texts (which had vacillated between the two running themes of "let's work it out and be together" and "I'm gonna get you and make you pay!") 

However, on the recordings themselves Garrett clearly states that the date of recording was October 31, 2015, some six months before the jilted Shelley decided to seek vengeance on him. On the stand she initially claimed that the videos were shot between February and April of 2016, so it immediately became apparent that something was amiss.

After the time-stamped video was played in court, and its actual recording date confirmed, Shelley changed her tune:

On the recordings, Shelley can be heard off camera, shouting directions and telling Garrett what to say next.

Shelley Lubben: Witness for the Prosecution

Damning correspondence

Another important piece of evidence came to light at Monday's hearing, one which the prosecution sought unsuccessfully to have excluded: a July 2016 email from Mrs. Lubben to Garrett in which she offers to pay $5,000 toward his defense against these very felony charges once the "Lubben Ranch" is sold.

On the stand, Shelley never missed an opportunity to (unconvincingly) claim victimhood -- in this instance that she had been the victim of Garrett's manipulation, and "a domestic violence victim". Her voice slurred slightly, she also fell into the trap of answering questions about her own veracity which had not been asked, closing with a crocodile tear-laden unprompted outburst that she "would never lie in a court of law.'

Under cross examination, Shelley was belligerent, and bristled when Mr. Lubben's attorney stated the obvious -- that she had set Garrett up and used the recordings as a bludgeon when she did not get her way. In response, Shelley seemed annoyed and defaulted to her "I'm a victim" position.

Here is the full transcript of the event, as transcribed by the court reporter:

Shelley stormed out of the hearing, with boyfriend Joe Valley in tow, as soon as the judge ruled against her and tossed all charges (but before he'd even finished speaking). Lubben's request for an extended restraining order against Garrett was also denied.

Following the hearing, a jubilant Garrett Lubben addressed the case on the courthouse steps.