2 Drug Arrests Made at Infamous Novato Mansion

There's trouble at the mansion again.

No Picasso lithographs stolen this time, though.

The arrested two women at one of Novato's most luxurious homes — owned by a former Ukrainian prime minister who is serving time in prison for money laundering.

Police were tipped off to a burglar alarm at 100 Obertz Lane, in the hills above the Marin Country Club area of Ignacio, a 4:53 a.m. Monday, according to Sgt. Jay Demski. Officers found evidence of a break-in and a perimeter was set up around the house. No one was found.

At 8:23 a.m., a patrol officer watched an early 1990s Lexus pull up to the gated entrance to the mansion and approached the occupants, identified as Sabrina Cross, 20, of San Pablo and Lisa Gutierrez, 44, of Hercules. Police found evidence of drug use and arrested the women.

During subsequent interviews, the women were tied to the early morning break-in, and the women were booked into Marin County Jail on suspicion of narcotics possession, drug paraphernalia possession, burglary, burglary tools possession and conspiracy.

The Marin Humane Society took custody of a male pitbull who was in the car with the women.

Novato police are continuing the investigation.

Acting Lt. Jennifer Welch said there have not been any reported incidents of break-ins or thefts since the Picasso artwork was lifted from the home of Pavlo Lazarenko. It was determined that a large group of teenagers had been partying at the empty mansion May 27 and someone made off with the 1957 lithograph titled femme au chignon ("woman with hair bun"). The Picasso was propped up against a fence on June 11 and taken into police evidence.

Novato police have been in steady communication with Dugsbery Inc., which manages the home for Lazarenko. Welch said the property managers have taken extra steps to improve the mansion's security.

"We've had quite a bit of extra patrols, both in vehicles and on foot," Welch said. "We're working closely with the property management."