Linda meth bust nets three

Arrests Thursday show Norteños and Sureños gang members can work together when it comes to methamphetamine sales, a drug enforcement official said.

Sean Michael Couch, a Norteños member, and Manuel Martin Martinez, who belongs to the Sureños, were arrested in the latest methamphetamine bust by the Yuba-Sutter Narcotic Enforcement Team (NET-5), said the agency's commander, Mike Hudson.

Officers took a search warrant about 7 a.m. to a residence in the 5500 block of Alicia Avenue in Linda and arrested Couch, 24, and his girlfriend, Jamie Lee Pinks, 30.

A small amount of methamphetamine, scales and packaging materials for street sales were found in the home — as were Pinks' two children, ages 2 and 11, said Hudson.

The children were turned over to Child Protective Services, while Pinks was booked into Yuba County Jail on suspicion of possessing meth and child endangerment.

Couch, who is on parole for auto theft and drug offenses, is facing charges of possession and distribution of meth as well as possession of a pellet gun he was not allowed to have as a parolee.

Martinez, of the 300 block of A Street in Marysville, was arrested at the Yuba County Jail, where he had turned himself in two days ago on an unrelated charge, said Hudson.

The arrests followed an investigation that started in February. A witness cooperating with NET-5 bought an ounce of meth on two occasions, payng $1,200 per ounce, said Hudson.

Couch and Martinez, who is on parole for drug sales, facilitated meth transactions and made actual sales, he said.

Appeal-Democrat reporter Rob Young can be reached at 749-4710 or at ryoung@appealdemocrat.com.