Craig Daily Press / Meth charges dropped

Archive for Tuesday, January 31, 2006

January 31, 2006

Methamphetamine possession and distribution charges against one of the women arrested in December's historic drug sweep have been dropped.

Gabriela Grijalva-Monrreal, 18, of Craig, was charged with felony distribution and possession of meth.

On Jan. 19, Moffat County Judge Mary Lynne James dropped the charges against Grijalva-Monrreal because she was 17 when the alleged sale occurred.

Police say Grijalva-Monrreal sold drugs Sept. 13, according to court documents. Grijalva-Monrreal turned 18 on Nov. 27.

Judge James said the District Attorney's Office could pursue juvenile charges against Grijalva-Monrreal. Juvenile court cases are sealed.

Grijalva-Monrreal, a Mexican national, was released from the Moffat County Jail on Jan. 20 into the custody of federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

Carl Rusnok, a spokesman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said Grijalva-Monrreal is being held for a suspected immigration violation.

She will go before a federal immigration judge this week, but an exact date for the hearing has not been set, Rusnok said.

The judge will determine whether she will be deported, Rusnok said.

Local law enforcement officers and the Greater Routt and Moffat Narcotics Enforcement Team rounded up Grijalva-Monrreal and 13 other defendants Dec. 21 and 22 after a six-month investigation.

Oak Creek police arrested the 15th defendant, Sherry Nelson, 40, of Oak Creek, on Dec. 27. She was transferred to Moffat County Jail from Routt County Jail on Dec. 29.

Police say they have evidence that all 15 people sold drugs to undercover officers and informants.

The 14 other defendants -- nine men and five women -- face felony charges of distributing meth and felony possession of meth.

If convicted, they face as many as 32 years in prison.

Brandon Johansson can be reached at 824-7031, ext. 213, or bjohansson@craigdailypress.com.

The first person from December's historic methamphetamine sweep to bond out of jail was re-arrested Tuesday at the Moffat County Courthouse after he allegedly failed a court-ordered drug test. Jonathan Zane Herod, 42, was arrested Tuesday when he showed up for a preliminary hearing before Moffat County Judge Mary Lynne James. Local law enforcement officers and the Greater Routt and Moffat Narcotics Enforcement Team originally arrested Herod and 13 other defendants Dec. 21 and 22 after a six-month investigation. Police say that they have evidence that all of the defendants sold drugs to undercover officers and informants. Herod posted $50,000 bond and was released from Moffat County Jail on Dec. 29, a week after he was originally booked on felony charges of distribution and possession of meth. According to court documents, Herod tested positive for meth during a urine test on Jan. 11. As a condition of his bond, Herod was required to take drug tests. Judge James said Herod also failed to show up for three drug tests. On Jan. 18, James issued an arrest warrant for Herod. James said officers couldn't find Herod until Tuesday, when he walked into county court. Moffat County sheriff's deputies and the Colorado State Patrol were in the courtroom waiting to arrest Herod. Deputy Tim Jantz handcuffed Herod in the courtroom hallway and took him to Moffat County Jail at about 2:15 p.m. James said Herod also faces additional meth distribution charges in a separate case. Those charges are based on a sale that police allege occurred before Herod's arrest in December, James said. The judge set Herod's bond at $150,000. The District Attorney's Office asked the bond to be set at $100,000. Herod's next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 21. -- Brandon Johansson, Daily Press staff