A Denair man was among four individuals arrested in Mendocino for exceeding an abalone limit.

Bobby Dean Tickner, 51, of Denair was arrested along with Rudy Bart Acosta, 43, of Hickman, Ernest Ruiz Jr., 37, of Waterford and Ruben Meza, 39, of Vacaville.

The men were arrested at a Fort Bragg motel after Mendocino County Sheriff’s deputies arrived to investigate a sexual assault complaint. The alleged victim of the sexual assault declined to press charges and that case was forwarded to the district attorney’s office.

While investigating the complaint, the deputies found the men in possession of 30 abalone. State law dictates that possessing more than 12 abalone constitutes intention to sell them commercially, which is against the law.

The Department of Fish and Game was contacted and they made the arrest.