One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
Nicolas Cendoya, Teen hiker lost in Orange County canyon, is charged with having meth
Nicholas Cendoya, 19, of Costa Mesa, who was rescued from the Cleveland National Forest in Orange County after a four-day search.
(
Courtesy Orange County Sheriff's Department
)
One of the two teenage hikers who were rescued after a four-day search of Southern California wilderness has been charged with felony methamphetamine possession, prosecutors said Wednesday.
Nicolas Cendoya, 19, was charged after authorities responding to help the pair found 497 milligrams of the drug in his vehicle, the Orange County Register reported.
RELATED: Hiker Nicolas Cendoya released from the hospital, thanks rescuers
Cendoya and Kyndall Jack, 18, called 911 from Holy Jim Canyon in Orange County on Easter Sunday, and told the operator they were lost and their cellphone was running out of energy.
Cendoya was discovered three days later, dehydrated and delirious. Jack was found the next day, hypothermic and confused.
Both recalled little from their ordeal, beyond hallucinations.
The search to find them required 1,900 man-hours, cost taxpayers an estimated $160,000, and resulted in one deputy's serious injury while trying to rescue Jack.
Sponsored message
Orange County Supervisor Todd Spitzer expressed outrage that reckless behavior may have cost citizens any money.
"I am incredibly perplexed. There are so many unanswered questions surrounding this situation," Spitzer told the newspaper.
Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Gail Krause said earlier this week that the hikers hadn't been asked to take drug tests, and there is no ongoing investigation into the incident.
If convicted of the meth charge, Cendoya faces up to three years in jail.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
