Warrant issued for California suspect in hefty marijuana case

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With his reported fiancée appearing in court Wednesday, a 35-year-old California man failed to show up and is now the subject of an arrest warrant in a 2020 drug case.

Nicholas David Rhodes of Stockton, Calif., and Julia Anne Kasprick, 36, Lockeford, Calif., are facing felony charges after a Christmas Eve 2020 traffic stop on Interstate 70 revealed 417 pounds of marijuana and $108,560 in cash in their possession.

They are facing identical charges of dealing marijuana of at least 10 pounds and conspiracy to deal marijuana of at least 10 pounds. Both are Level 5 felony counts punishable by 1-6 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. They also face a misdemeanor charge of marijuana possession.

Putnam Superior Court Judge Denny Bridges set a trial date of Feb. 27 for Kasprick, while Putnam County Prosecutor Timothy Bookwalter reminded the court of the companion case involving Rhodes, noting that “he is not here.”

Rhodes had posted $100,000 cash bond for himself and $50,000 cash bond for Kasprick following their arrests.

“She came back and he didn’t,” Bookwalter said. “It took us about two years to try to get them back here. He’s been through three lawyers in the time being.”

The couple’s eastbound motorhome was stopped by Indiana State Police for an unsafe lane movement violation at 2:20 p.m. Dec. 24, 2020 near the Cloverdale exit of Interstate 70.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Rhodes said he and his fiancée were traveling from California to Indianapolis to visit family for Christmas.

Court documents noted that an “overwhelming odor of fresh marijuana” could be detected from the interior of the vehicle, while Rhodes admitted to consuming marijuana in the RV. He retrieved two plastic bags containing loose marijuana and THC-infused edibles from the motorhome and provided police an expired medical cannabis card.

Sgt. Anthony Brown of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and his drug dog were called to the scene and performed a free-air sniff around the motorhome with the narcotics detention canine providing a positive alert to the odor of drugs. The dog later also delivered a positive alert to the odor of illegal drugs on the cash.

A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed approximately 417 pounds of cannabis products and $108,560 in cash from the suspected sale and distribution of bulk marijuana products. According to websites on the Internet, the street value of an ounce of high-quality marijuana in the United States averages $320. That means the 417 pounds equates to approximately $2.135 million, depending on quality.

The marijuana confiscated was described as:

• Approximately 205 pounds of fresh marijuana in trash bags and duffel bags.

• Approximately 13 pounds of fresh marijuana in clear plastic bags.

• Approximately 185 pounds of THC-infused cannabis edibles in black trash bags.

• Approximately 14 pounds of cannabis wax resin in clear plastic bags.

Although marijuana is legal in the suspects’ home state of California, it is not legal in Indiana and is still federally illegal, Prosecutor Bookwalter said at the time of the arrest. “And while it’s legal in California, it isn’t legal in California to have 400 pounds,” he added.

The drugs were reportedly destined for delivery to a Troy Avenue address in Indianapolis.

Authorities seized the marijuana and cash pending further investigation.