DOS PALOS -- A woman and her boyfriend were taken into custody during the weekend after officers reported discovering that drugs were being sold out of the house they shared, and that the children living there were helping weigh, package and sell it, police reported Monday.
Taken into custody early Saturday morning were Rebeca Paz, 35, and Christian Maurer, 34, of Dos Palos. Police Chief Barry Mann said Monday that they had been released from jail and their cases are pending with the district attorney's office.
Mann said the investigation into their activities started late Friday when officers stopped their vehicle near Lexington Avenue and L Street in South Dos Palos.
They found a weapon and small amount of marijuana in the car, Mann said.
During questioning, Mann said Maurer acknowledged that he carried the gun for protection. Officers came to believe that drugs were being sold from the couple's house in the 2100 block of Aviator Avenue.
A search warrant was subsequently served there, Mann said, and more than 6 ounces of marijuana were found. They say they learned that at least one child was weighing and packaging marijuana for sale.
One child admitted selling drugs for an extended period of time.
Paz, the mother of the children, told officers she was aware drugs were being sold from the house but didn't know her children were involved.
Merced County Child Protective Services took custody of the children, Mann said.
The chief said his department will work with federal authorities to determine if any drug trafficking involved the postal system.
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