Couple in court on drug charges

A Gardnerville Ranchos couple is to appear in East Fork Justice Court today on charges they were selling heroin and operating a marijuana cultivation system from their duplex on Linda Drive in the Gardnerville Ranchos.

David Knapp, 40, was charged with sales of a controlled substance, conspiracy to violate the Uniform Controlled Substances Act and possession of a controlled substance for sale.

His bail is $100,000.

Crystal Ciccone, 36, was charged with possession of a controlled substance for sale, possession of stolen property and child endangerment.

According to reports, Ciccone's 10-year-old daughter was living at the residence where officers found the marijuana operation, heroin and stolen power tools.

Authorities believe Knapp was selling heroin from the residence.

The couple was arrested early Nov. 14 by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office Special Weapons and Tactics team after an investigation by the sheriff's office Street Enforcement Team.

Knapp has a lengthy history with the sheriff's office including at least a dozen criminal contacts.

He told Justice Pro Tem Paul Gilbert on Monday that he was unemployed and couldn't afford a lawyer. Gilbert appointed Derrick Lopez and ordered Knapp back to court today.

He appointed lawyer Tod Young to represent Ciccone.

According to reports, Ciccone told investigators she didn't know Knapp was selling heroin.

She claimed to have a state-issued medical marijuana card, but officials contacted the state who had no record of Ciccone.

The marijuana grow was located in a room that had been built inside the garage and sealed to prevent the odor from being detected outside. The room also contained a system of grow lights which automatically moved across the room on a track to provide the marijuana plants artificial sunlight.

In addition to the narcotics, marijuana and paraphernalia found during the search, investigators also discovered several items recently reported stolen in local burglaries.

Investigators are working on getting the stolen property, consisting of construction and automotive equipment, back to the owners.