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By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Two individuals were brought before a judge this afternoon in connection with alleged cocaine dealing, following their arrests by drug detectives in the Grand Mound area
Eighteen-year-old Leonardo A. Flores-Martinez is charged with twice selling to a confidential informant.
He lives with his parents in Rochester and told police he was born into the Surreno gang, according to court documents.
When the home of 32-year-old Esteban A. Vasquez III was searched yesterday, law enforcement officers allegedly found in a shirt in his closet a digital scale and approximately 15 grams of cocaine, charging documents state. A loaded Glock was also removed from his closet, according to prosecutors.
The arrests came yesterday after Lewis County’s Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team served a search warrant at Vasquez’s Grand Mound home.
Flores-Martinez was contacted outside, taken into custody and allegedly confessed that was the residence where he got his supply.
Vasquez was not home, but voluntarily returned to the scene, Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Paul Masiello told a judge this afternoon.
“He was informed what law enforcement discovered and nodded his head in affirmation,” Masiello wrote in court documents.
Vasquez was charged today in Lewis County Superior Court with one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. Because he has a prior felony conviction, he was also charged with second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.
Charging documents state detectives found indications of gang affiliation in his bedroom.
Defense attorney Joely O’Rourke told the judge Vasquez grew up in Centralia and has strong community ties. He’s currently working at a Lacey mattress manufacturer and has been there for three years, she said in seeking his release on a $10,000 unsecured bond.
Flores-Martinez was charged with two counts of delivery of a controlled substance – for instances between March 1 and yesterday – and one count of possession of methamphetamine, for what was retrieved from his pocket yesterday.
He’s unemployed and has a recent case from March 22 of possession of a controlled substance as well as driving under the influence, the two lawyers said.
Judge Richard Brosey set his bail at $25,000.
While court documents show both men with Rochester mailing addresses, charging papers state the various offenses all occurred in Lewis County.
Their arraignments were scheduled for next Thursday.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
My guess is an actual cop that thinks his job is not only dangerous, but difficult to do.
I’m guessing that GoodGrief is a disgruntled cop who wasn’t good enough to get selected for JNET. Capt. Jealousy is in the howse.
Your bullshit liberal ideas are killing this country you worthless piece of sht. Throw the book at all drug addicted welfare trash, build the wall and deport everyone of the welfare scum .
@bahlsdeep, it said that he confessed to where he got his stuff from. While not technically working for JNET giving up your partners is indeed snitching.
Also, legalizing drugs would nearly eliminate the cartels. Not to mention all the other benefits like keeping people who do not belong in prison out. Prisons are for people who actually hurt others not just for people who like to have a good buzz sometimes. Law Enforcement could devote more time and resources to solving real crimes like violent acts, theft, traffic enforcement, etc.
Your Orwellian idea of having cameras EVERYWHERE bothers me a lot more than seeing a business that sells dope. It’s not like you are required to go there just because it is open. Sadly, your idea is much closer to the direction we are heading in than mine is. Hopefully it lives up to your expectations.
I knew this kid in middle school. He was always troubled and the Juvinile system never provided him with a chance. His parents obviously messed him up as well. I know that that enabling behavior is the reason he just destroyed his life. When I met him, he was kind hearted and an incredible artist. Now, a few years later I can’t imagine the things going through his mind. I’m not defending him. He broke the law and his punishment will reflect on his poor choices. His background is what breaks my heart. Just because someone is a criminal, doesn’t mean that they were given the opportunity for a better life. I remember when he was living on the streets.
I agree Pea body. Legalize all drugs. Let the Cartels open up an I-503 meth store. While we’re at it, let’s give felons their gun rights back and sex offenders day care centers.
Laws are in place for a reason and while the cops can’t catch all drug users and dealers, or all car thieves and car prowlers, they get who they can on their shift. If you want to solve the problems completely, put video cameras on all streets and intersections in Centralia. It works in Europe.
Ah ha, you said Anchor Baby.. the drug war is a failure. People are going to do drugs no matter what laws apply. Drug use has been going on since the dawn of time. Lets just legalize drugs and try that for a while. We tried the drug war for over 30 years so lets try something else. Besides wouldnt it be safer to know whats in your drugs if it was government controled.
Good , lil piece of shit , sick of all the anchor baby’s of illegal trash. Build the wall, cut all support to illegals and their kids! Throw the book at this scum bag .;-)
Where in all of this do you see that Vasquez is working for JNET? I see that he was arrested for coke and a gun. He’s known to associate with the LVL so I’m highly doubting he works for the cops. Good grief
Unfortunately Good Grief there are prison cells than there are treatment beds. People also have to want to get treatment for it to be successful.
“Defense attorney Joely O’Rourke told the judge Vasquez grew up in Centralia and has strong community ties. He’s currently working at a Lacey mattress manufacturer and has been there for three years, she said in seeking his release on a $10,000 unsecured bond.”
And now he better run, run, run because JNET released his name as a snitch. And they did it on purpose. And they don’t care if he gets hurt because of it. Addiction is a disease that leads people into dealing to support the habit. Treat the damned disease for a tenth or maybe a hundredth of what we spend on law enforcers like JNET and the local jail with a FAR higher chance of actually curtailing the problem, rather than prolonging it (and keeping people at JNET employed).