A former Cortez Journal employee has pleaded guilty in connection to an undercover drug sting.<\/p>\n
Gabriel Gallegos, 33, of Cortez, pleaded guilty to a drug distribution charge last week. As part of a plea deal, Gallegos could receive up to four years in prison when sentenced on May 7.<\/p>\n
Court records reveal a Cortez police informant helped set up an undercover drug buy with Gallegos on Nov. 21, 2014. Police reported buying 2 grams of meth at a residence within 1,000 feet of a local school.<\/p>\n
Man pleads guilty in debit card theft<\/p>\n
A known meth user pleaded guilty last week to stealing $1,000 from a man who hired him to do mechanic work.<\/p>\n
Jerry Smith, 38, of Cortez, pleaded guilty to unauthorized use of a debit card. He could receive 12 months of probation in sentencing May 7.<\/p>\n
Court records reveal that Smith was nabbed after he withdrew $1,000 on separate occasions using a stolen debit card.<\/p>\n
Teen may avoid jail after injuring 2, DUI<\/p>\n
A Cortez teenager charged with injuring two in an alcohol-related automobile crash is likely to avoid jail.<\/p>\n
Orlando Arviso, 19, pleaded guilty last week to misdemeanor DUI and careless-driving charges. As part of a plea deal, Arviso could receive a suspended jail sentence and 24 months of probation in sentencing May 19.<\/p>\n
In April, Arviso was involved in a head-on collision with a vehicle driven by a 70-year-old man on U.S. 160. Two passengers in the man\u2019s auto were seriously injured, including one who suffered a spinal injury.<\/p>\n
Alleged joyrider back behind bars<\/p>\n
After failing to appear on charges of motor vehicle theft, a 21-year-old Cortez woman is back behind bars.<\/p>\n
Last fall, Tonya Chavez pleaded guilty to aggravated motor vehicle theft, she failed to appear at a December sentencing hearing. She was arrested on March 10. A new sentencing date was set on April 7.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors said Chavez took a vehicle from an E. Downey Street in November 2013, and didn\u2019t return the auto for 12 days.<\/p>\n
The initial plea deal would have sentenced Chavez to 18 months in jail and a year of parole.<\/p>\n