Men arrested for selling cocaine near school
Two local men could face up to 25 years in prison for selling cocaine within sight of the West Elementary School campus.
The defendants, Fidencio Perez and Jauquin Juarez, were indicted Friday on charges of possession of cocaine with intent to sell within a school zone. The charges come from a raid of their home, located near the intersection of Clark Boulevard and Peers Street. Lawmen reported finding a cache of cocaine in the house when they made their surprise raid armed with a search warrant. One of the men was reportedly in the process of trying to flush the evidence down the toilet when officers caught him in the act.
Prosecutors say the raid came after several undercover drug buys were made at the location. Additional charges are expected against one or both of the men in connection with the drug buys.
According to District Attorney General Dale Potter, the school zone law makes the crime eligible for much stiffer punishment. The school zone law affords tougher penalties for those who possess, manufacture or sell drugs within 1,000 feet of a school. West Elementary lies within the 1,000-foot distance, Potter noted, adding the school zone provision will enhance the charge by one felony level to a Class A felony.
In addition to bringing sentences ranging from 15 to 25 years, the school zone law also requires violators to serve 100 percent of their time. The law was passed by lawmakers to discourage drug pushers from committing their crimes near school campuses.
The law was used locally last week when a Dibrell man was sentenced to 20 years in prison for manufacturing meth in a building across from Dibrell Elementary.