HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The 32-year-old Hutchinson man who was arrested after a search warrant was served on his home on April 23 was back in court Thursday afternoon where he was expected to enter a plea, but decided against it. Gerardo Saucedo, through his current attorney, informed the court that he wanted to hire a private attorney, Shaun Lautz.
Saucedo is charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute, and no drug tax stamp after the state contends that law enforcement found around 90 pounds of marijuana in brick form, believed to be from Mexico. But they also allegedly found numerous containers of high-grade marijuana which were found scattered throughout the home, as well as new packaging materials, a digital scale and some weapons.
Deputy District Attorney Tom Stanton objected to any continuance after the defendant decided to decline the plea, saying Saucedo told the court previously that he would hire an attorney and still had not done so. Stanton says he’s had plenty of time to accomplish this.
Judge Joe McCarville reluctantly granted additional time for Saucedo to hire an attorney and placed that case back on a waiver-status docket for August 20, however, warned the defendant that if he hasn’t hired anyone, the public defender assigned to the case would be his attorney.
Saucedo remains free on a $8,500 bond.