Another suspect was arrested Monday on a felony drug sales charge stemming from a Blaine County grand jury indictment in June.
Rodrigo Gomez-Cruz voluntarily appeared for arraignment in Blaine County 5th District Court but was taken into custody at the end of the hearing by court Bailiff Doug Wynn. He remained incarcerated Tuesday in the Blaine County jail on $75,000 bond.
Court records state that Gomez-Cruz is from Los Angeles and was born in 1989.
During arraignment he pleaded not guilty to aiding and abetting trafficking in cocaine, a crime punishable by up to life in prison. Conviction carries a minimum prison sentence of three years.
Gomez-Cruz is the sixth suspect arrested following a series of grand jury indictments issued June 3. The indictments stem from a yearlong undercover drug investigation conducted by the Blaine County Narcotics Enforcement Team with the assistance of Idaho State Police. Three indicted suspects remain at large. Their identities have not been released by the narcotics team.
The indictment against Gomez-Cruz alleges that he participated in a cocaine sale to a police confidential informant last October.
In a separate case, Gomez-Cruz is also charged in Blaine County with felony possession of a controlled substance. That crime allegedly also occurred in October. He has remained free on the charge on $10,000 bond.
In court Monday, defense attorney Andrew Parnes said he contacted Gomez-Cruz when he learned about the grand jury indictment and that his client voluntarily agreed to appear for arraignment.
"True to his word, he is appearing today to surrender on that new case," Parnes said.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Angela Nelson asked that bond be set in the new case at $100,000.
"We now have two felony charges pending against Mr. Gomez, both of which involve drug charges," Nelson said.
Parnes noted that his client has already posted bond in the earlier case and that he has a good track record for voluntarily appearing in court. He asked that Gomez-Cruz be released on his own recognizance.
"I don't think that bail is required in this matter," Parnes said.
Judge Robert J. Elgee didn't see it that way.
"He has voluntarily appeared today, but the charge is very serious," Elgee said. "Bond is required to ensure appearance throughout the case and not just today. He has to submit to arrest today."
A jury trial in both cases against Gomez-Cruz was scheduled for Nov. 29.
Terry Smith: tsmith@mtexpress.com
Rodrigo Gomez-Cruz
