SAN JOSE (KRON) — The owners of a clothing-optional resort in Los Gatos face felony charges, accused of piping water from a local creek to their drought-affected business, according to Santa Clara County District Attorney officials on Friday.
Co-owners of Lupin Lodge, 77-year-old Glyn Stout and his wife 53-year-old Lori Kay Stout, are charged with felony conspiracy to commit trespassing for the purpose of injuring a property right, after they repeatedly diverted water from a section of a local creek that they did not own, officials said.
Employees John Berryessa, 49, and Michael Buckland, 38 have also been charged in the case.
Investigators say last July, the resort owners asked the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District if they could install temporary lines to collect water from Hendry’s Creek on the MROSD managed property for use
at their lodge. MROSD officials declined their request.
Despite the fact that they weren’t granted access to the creek, employees of Lupin Lodge repeatedly trespassed onto the property on foot and in various vehicles, according to investigators.
Evidence shows that an old fire trail was cleared, causing significant environmental damage, and multiple water lines were installed into Hendry’s Creek and other springs on the MROSD property. All of the water lines ran to or delivered water to the Lupin Lodge water system, investigators said.
The D.A.’s office says wildlife cameras in the area captured several photos of individuals trespassing and carrying plastic tubing.
Glyn and Lori Kay Stout are scheduled to be arraigned on July 13 at the Hall of Justice in San Jose. If convicted, they could face up to three years in county jail.