Local man enters pleas in drug case
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 28-year-old Hutchinson man who served time in prison in drug cases going back to 2008 and 2011 and waived his right to a preliminary hearing in the latest case against him has now entered a plea to an amended complaint that includes nine charges.
Benito Montalbo entered “no contest” pleas to possession of morphine, possession of marijuana with a prior conviction, five counts of possession of a controlled substance with a prior conviction, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving while suspended. The state in exchange agreed to not file additional charges against the defendant.
Montalbo was stopped by a Reno County Sheriff Deputy back on Jan. 21 of last year at 6th & Porter when the deputy apparently knew his driver’s license was suspended. Allegedly on his person was a small plastic bag of synthetic marijuana or K-2. On the console of his vehicle was a small amount of marijuana, morphine pills, other various types of pills and zig-zag rolling papers.
The two sides in the case will be able to argue disposition in the case when he’s sentenced on April 3.
Hutch man charged in stalking case
A 22-year-old man will stay in jail unless he’s able to post a bond of $25,250. That was the decision of Magistrate Judge Randy McEwen after Dylan Michael Mendoza requested a reduction.
Mendoza has been charged by the state with stalking, aggravated intimidation of a witness and two counts of making a criminal threat in a domestic case. The alleged crime occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. All of the crimes were made against the same victim.
With the charges filed, the case against him will move to a future waiver-status docket.