WILLMAR -- Two men and one woman from Willmar face felony drug charges after a CEE-VI drug task force investigation into a methamphetamine sale.
All three made their first appearances in court Monday and will make their next court appearances on April 10. Public defenders will be appointed for all three.
Lazaro Soliz III, 39, of Willmar faces two felony charges of selling meth more than once within a 90-day period. He also faces a felony count for storing meth paraphernalia in the presence of a child and a petty misdemeanor count of possessing drug paraphernalia.
Lorena Peterson, 44, of Willmar is charged with several felonies -- aiding the sale of more than 10 grams of meth, possessing more than 3 grams of meth and storing meth paraphernalia in the presence of a child. She was also charged with a gross misdemeanor count of endangering a child and a petty misdemeanor count of possessing drug paraphernalia.
David Lobbins, 50, faces two felony charges of selling meth more than once within a 90-day period, a felony charge of drug possession and a petty misdemeanor charge of possessing drug paraphernalia.
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According to information in court files, a confidential informant approached Lobbins about purchasing meth. Lobbins said he needed to go to Soliz's home to buy the drugs, so the informant gave him $700 in bills which had been recorded by drug agents.
Drug agents followed Lobbins to the home shared by Soliz and Peterson and observed an alleged drug buy take place outside the home. Lobbins returned to his room at a Willmar motel, where he gave the 12.5 grams of meth to the informant. Lobbins was later arrested.
Agents executed a search warrant at the Soliz/Peterson home. The two were there, along with a 13-year-old child who also lived in the home, according to the court files.
Peterson allegedly admitted to being a meth user and said the meth found in the apartment was hers. Soliz refused to speak to officers during the search. Officers found large amounts of cash -- $12,580 in a safe, including the $700 agents had provided for the informant, and $6,720 hidden in a box spring.
Peterson and Soliz were arrested after the search.
Bail for Soliz was set at $125,000 cash or bond for unconditional release.
Peterson's bail was set at $75,000 cash or bond for unconditional release and $50,000 bond or $5,000 cash for conditional release.
