A Kokomo, Indiana man busted while hauling a load of methamphetamine through Mohave County entered a mandatory prison plea agreement at the Mohave County Courthouse on July 3. Cristian Lopez, 23, pleaded guilty to transportation of dangerous drugs for sale.
Authorities said the Department of Public Safety stopped the vehicle Lopez was driving when it made a lane change without turn signal notice on Interstate 15 just south of the Utah border on January 19. Lopez’ license had been suspended and prosecutor Jacob Cote told Judge Billy Sipe that officer detection of the odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle led to a probable cause based search.
Cote said officers found 20 pounds of methamphetamine, packaged in 20-one-pound bags. Terms of the plea deal require Judge Sipe to order a 7.5-year prison term at a July 31 sentencing hearing. Charges are still pending against the vehicle passenger co-defendant Joel Padilla, 24.
