Man pleads to possession, paraphernalia charges in Willmar, Minn., drug bust
WILLMAR -- Rogelio Martinez-Alvarez, 36, of Glencoe, pleaded guilty Friday to charges of first-degree drug possession and storing meth paraphernalia in the presence of a child, charges filed after cocaine and multiple items of drug paraphernalia were found in an October 2011 search of a Regency Estates West home.
As part of a plea agreement in Kandiyohi County District Court, two additional felony charges for fifth-degree drug possession and receiving stolen property, along with gross misdemeanor charges of child endangerment and possession of a weapon by a user of controlled substance will be dismissed. Martinez-Alvarez will be sentenced, likely to 60 months in prison, on May 21.
Martinez-Alvarez and Maria De Jesus Magana, 44, of Willmar, were both charged after police officers executed a search warrant on Oct. 26 at a home in Regency Estates West and found 51 grams of cocaine, more than two pounds of marijuana and a stolen handgun.
Magana was found guilty March 23 of felony charges of first- and fifth-degree drug possession and for storing methamphetamine paraphernalia in the presence of a child, plus a gross misdemeanor of child endangerment, in a court trial before District Judge Donald M. Spilseth. Her sentencing is May 8.
CEE-VI Drug Task Force agents, plus officers from the Willmar Police Department and the Kandiyohi County Sheriff's Office, served the warrant along the 400 block of 30th Street Northwest.
Martinez-Alvarez, Magana and a 3-year-old child were located in the home. When they entered the home, officers used Mace on a large dog described as a pit bull. The dog was removed and taken to Hawk Creek Animal Shelter in Willmar.
According to the complaint, the search revealed 2.32 pounds of marijuana in multiple containers, 51 grams of cocaine, multiple items of drug paraphernalia, a stolen 9mm handgun and 94 rounds of ammunition. The gun was identified as a weapon stolen from a Willmar gun store.
Most of the marijuana, drug paraphernalia and ammunition were located near the child's bed, hidden in a dog food bag. Marijuana was also located in the drawers of several pieces of furniture in the bedroom. The cocaine was hidden in caulking tubes in a dresser drawer.
Officers also located more than $3,600 in cash at the home, with most of it hidden between mattresses.
