Fresno man arraigned for local pot grow

A Fresno man arrested this week at a Madera County marijuana grow had his first day in Madera County Superior Court on Friday as he was arraigned before Judge David Minier.

A joint operation of the sheriff’s department, California Highway Patrol and district attorney’s office netted the arrest of Soukthavy Phiachantharath, 46, at a pot plot on the eastern side of State Route 41 in the Coarsegold area Wednesday.

He faces two felony counts, including a charge of tending or processing marijuana and a charge of possessing it for sale. The district attorney’s office also filed a special allegation due to his being armed with a firearm upon arrest.

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for May 20 in Department 21 of Madera Superior Court...