By Larry Judkins
Glenn County Observer
What was supposed to be a purchase turned into a robbery and murder.
As reported here almost two months ago, a man was shot to death south of Orland shortly before dusk on Tuesday, June 8.
Law enforcement officers rushed to the scene about 8 p.m. For the location, they were at first told only that it was at County Roads M and 20. A little later, an address on Road M, just south of Road 20, was given.
The Orland Volunteer Fire Department and Westside Ambulance were then called to the area and asked to stage nearby for a victim of a “GSW” (gunshot wound). Law enforcement quickly secured the scene, however, and the medical personnel were soon brought in.
The victim was at the back of the short driveway. From the street, they could be seen working hard to save the man’s life.
Despite their efforts, medical personnel eventually had to give up.
The Observer asked Sgt. Greg Felkins if he had any information, but he said he knew very little at that time. “I don’t even know who he is,” he said.
He knew only that he was a Hispanic male adult, and that he was an “11-44” (deceased).
The son of the homeowner said that the man was shot nearby, not outside their home. He said he and his family were inside when they heard two gunshots.
The victim came to the property from the back and died in the driveway.
This was not the end of the situation, however. Law enforcement officers believed the shooter or shooters took refuge in a neighboring house.
Officers surrounded the house for several hours, and a CHP helicopter was brought in. Nothing was found after a thorough search that continued until after midnight.
More information is now known, however. According to an official document, law enforcement personnel on-scene learned the shooting had occurred at 6657 County Road 20.
At some point, three occupants of the home were detained: Katon Clark, Matthew Gentry, and Alfredo Ordaz.
Detective Travis Johnsen was called to the scene to investigate the homicide. He learned the Road 20 property was used for the purpose of cultivating, processing, and selling marijuana.
Ordaz was the property owner and Gentry was at the property allegedly for the purpose of assisting Ordaz with the sales of the marijuana. The shooting victim was also involved in the sales of marijuana at the property.
More specifically, Gentry allegedly acted as a “broker” to help Ordaz find buyers for the drugs. Clark also allegedly acted as a “broker” to help people interested in buying marijuana find the drug.
Earlier on June 8, Clark arrived at the Road 20 property to speak with Gentry and Ordaz about buying marijuana. Clark arranged for two men to come to the property.
They arrived at the location in a white VW Passat, and the two men looked at the marijuana Ordaz and the soon-to-be shooting victim had for sale. The two men agreed to buy 100 pounds of marijuana, but when the soon-to-be victim brought out the 100 pounds of pot, one of the men produced a firearm and shot the victim in the leg.
The victim fled to the neighbor’s driveway on County Road M, where he soon died. Ordaz, Clark, and Gentry fled into the house on Road 20, while the suspects took the 100 pounds of marijuana and left the area in the Volkswagen.
Ordaz and Gentry reportedly had never met the suspects before. Clark had allegedly been introduced to the suspects through a mutual friend.
Clark allegedly admitted he had been communicating with the suspects via his cell phone. He told Det. Johnsen his cell phone would contain phone numbers and messages to the suspects that would primarily be for the purpose of buying marijuana.
Clark reportedly admitted that he had been involved in the buying of marijuana for several years. He told Det. Johnsen he recently brokered other marijuana deals.
Clark told Det. Johnsen the two suspects, whom Clark claimed he knew only as Roger and Kalifa, flew to Sacramento from Atlanta on June 8 to purchase the marijuana. Clark said he met the suspects for the first time when he met them at the airport.
From the airport, the suspects followed Clark to the Road 20 property.
This was not the first time it was discovered the property at 6657 County Road 20 was being used to cultivate and sell illegal amounts of marijuana. On August 13, 2018, GLINTF raided the property and arrested Alfredo Ordaz, 29, on charges alleging cultivation of more than six marijuana plants (a misdemeanor), and keeping a place to sell controlled substances (a felony).
He pled guilty to both charges on June 5, 2019, and was sentenced to court probation for 36 months, and fines and fees.
The Glenn County Observer 