A jury trial for a man accused of selling cocaine ended abruptly Tuesday in Blaine County 5th District Court after the defendant decided to plead guilty.
Midway through jury selection, Francisco Llamas-Espino reached a plea agreement with the Blaine County Prosecuting Attorney's Office and admitted to a charge of trafficking in cocaine. In exchange, the prosecutor's office agreed to have a second charge of delivery of cocaine dismissed.
Sentencing was scheduled for Sept. 1 before Judge John K. Butler, who normally presides in Jerome County but was assigned to the case last month because of the pending retirement of Judge Barry Wood.
Llamas-Espino, a 34-year-old man who lived mid-valley, remains a prisoner in the Blaine County jail. Bond is set at $125,000 but is not likely to be posted because Llamas-Espino is also suspected of being an illegal immigrant. Once he's satisfied any jail or prison time in Idaho, Llamas-Espino is required to be turned over to the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency for possible deportation.
Llamas-Espino is one of five men arrested and charged with drug sales crimes in a cocaine and methamphetamine bust conducted by the Blaine County Narcotics Enforcement team last February and March. Four of the five have now pleaded guilty to selling drugs and are awaiting sentencing. Four of the five are also suspected of being illegal immigrants and remain incarcerated.
The exception is Benjamin C. Wagstaff, a 27-year-old mid-valley man who pleaded guilty on June 8 to delivery of methamphetamine. In exchange for his guilty plea, the prosecutor's office saw that two other felony drug charges were dismissed. Also, federal authorities agreed not to pursue charges against Wagstaff for a small pipe-bomb-like device that was allegedly found at Wagstaff's residence on Alturas Drive when he was arrested.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 20. Wagstaff remains free on $30,000 bond.
A guilty plea has also been entered by Jose De Jesus Garcia-de Loera, a 35-year-old man who lived at The Meadows trailer park south of Ketchum. Garcia-de Loera admitted in court on June 16 to delivery of cocaine. In exchange, two other felony drug charges were dismissed. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 4.
Sentencing is also set for Aug. 4 for Jose Alberto Vera-Hidalgo, a 29-year-old Hailey man. According to court records, Vera-Hidalgo pleaded guilty on June 19 to delivery of cocaine. Two other felony drug charges were dismissed.
The fifth suspect is Lesdi Gabriel Parra-Quinones, a 24-year-old man who was arrested south of Bellevue. A jury trial is scheduled before Judge Butler for Aug. 18. Parra-Quinones is charged with three felonies—conspiracy to deliver cocaine, possession of cocaine and delivery or possession of cocaine with children present.
If the case goes to trial, a confidential informant who assisted police in the drug bust may be required to testify.
Terry Smith: tsmith@mtexpress.com
Francisco Llamas-Espino
