Winemaker Arrested for Meth Possession

A Lompoc winemaker was arrested Thursday after Sheriff’s deputies found a meth pipe in his pocket and discovered 7 grams of methamphetamine in his car.

Lindley Winery co-owner Jacob Lindley, 34, was pulled over at 6:12 p.m. in the 1200 block of Highway 246, said Lt. Shawn O’Grady in an email to The Santa Barbara Independent. Deputies had received a “Be on the Lookout” advisory for a DUI driver in the area.

Lindley was removed from the vehicle, O’Grady said, and during a search of his person, a meth pipe was located in his pocket. Lindley gave deputies permission to search his car, where they found 7 grams of methamphetamine. O’Grady noted Lindley was on probation for DUI.

California Highway Patrol officers arrived to the scene to conduct field sobriety tests. They did not feel Lindley was under the influence of drugs or alcohol to the point of DUI, O’Grady said, but he was arrested, his car was towed, and he was booked into County Jail on charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Lindley was released from jail the next day “via the cite-release process,” O’Grady said, “wherein Lindley was issued a citation to appear in court at a later date.” The case has been forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office for review. Prosecutors will decide whether to file the charges as felonies or misdemeanors.

Lindley’s arrest was first reported by the Lompoc Record on Tuesday. The story has generated considerable attention and backlash on Facebook, where Lindley’s friends and his wife have defended him and accused the Lompoc paper of misreporting the incident.

Emails to Lindley seeking comment were not immediately returned.