Francisco J. Guerrero, left, and his girlfriend Jennifer M. Hayes, wait while attorneys finish signing documents during their arraignment in Lewis County Superior Court.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – The Vader couple arrested after an investigation into what police called a large supplier of heroin in Lewis and Cowlitz counties appeared in court yesterday afternoon with their lawyers for a brief hearing.
Francisco “Poncho” Guerrero, 36, is represented by James K. Morgan; and Jennifer M. Hayes, 33, is represented by John Hays. Both attorneys have offices in Longview.
When police searched the home on Alpine Court on Dec. 29, they seized heroin, cocaine, cash and a handgun, as well as a motorcycle. The investigation was conducted by the Centralia Police Department’s special Anti-Crime Team, Chehalis police detectives and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.
For unspecified reasons, police did not arrest them until last week. They have been free on bail and returned to Lewis County Superior Court yesterday afternoon for arraignment.
Hayes is charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver, involving heroin and cocaine.
Guerrero is charged similarly, along with one count of delivery of heroin and one count of first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.
Both pleaded not guilty yesterday to all charges.
Defense attorney Hays told Judge Nelson Hunt he’d like to schedule a review hearing for next week, as he discovered the prosecutor got a judge to seal the document police presented to secure the search warrant.
Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Paul Masiello told the judge the state would oppose any request for unsealing. He said the office policy is to withhold that information in order to protect confidential informants, and once that information becomes known by the defense, any possible plea deals are taken off the table.
Judge Hunt agreed they could set a hearing for next Thursday afternoon to take up the matter.
Hunt also scheduled their trials for the week of May 11.
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For background, read “Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup – POLICE: VADER HEROIN DEALING COUPLE BUSTED” from Saturday March 7, 2015, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
Looks and actions can be deceiving cause this couple and the other couple who killed the child in vader go to same church in vader. I know people who’s kids go there and its scary….u wouldnt think those type of people would …they were probley supplying each other
Well Bill, a quick lesson in drug dealing. Between this well written story and the one a few down about Sebastian Haller getting 16 years for doing the same, I’d say Sharyn is doing a great job of highlighting the county’s proactive approach on drug dealers.
Stay tuned Poncho and Lefty……
Bahlsdeep I have never seen cocaine, meth, or heroin and don’t have any friends that are in to it. Unfortunately the biggest business in Lewis County is law enforcement, justice system, and peripheral business. 90÷ of the root causes of people becoming their customers at drugs and alcohol. And also 90÷ of the cost to us honest and paying taxpayers. Great business since we have few mills but there must be a more enlightened way.
XDs would know he is well versed in criminal activity. I would take his word for it. Lol
The previous article said they had 9 ounces of heroin. Seeings that addicts use heroin by the tenth of a gram, I’d say they’re a big deal Bill.
Far from new to dope & pedaling it.
They are very well known in Cowlitz county.
Sounds like Bill S knows them personally. But, if they had a handgun and dealing drugs, that is a problem. If they seized a motorcycle, it is probably stolen or bought with drug money. So that is proper protocol for these situations. Caught and pleading guilty, just a 2ay to waste tax payer money. They will plead out and roll on 3…
They look pretty normal to me. I guess anybody the cops decide to arrest might have a handgun and a motorcycle so I don’t know what that has to do with anything. Not a big time dealer perhaps they were just set up by someone they thought was a friend.