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NEWS-PRESS EXCLUSIVE
Woman pleads guilty to exposing her son to fentanyl Lompoc resident Jessie McCoy, 36, scheduled to be back in court July 19 for sentencing By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS COUNTY EDITOR
The mother of a 1-year-old boy pleaded guilty Wednesday to felony child endangerment for exposing him to fentanyl, nearly costing him his life, in their Lompoc home, prosecutors said. The defendant, Jessie McCoy, 36, is scheduled to return to court on July 19 for sentencing.
“The agreement is for four years in state prison, the middle term, with the remaining counts dismissed,” Deputy District Attorney Madison Whitmore told the News-Press. The boy’s father, Curtis Roberts, 43, appeared in court, too, Wednesday, but he did not plead guilty, the prosecutor said. Mr. Roberts is scheduled to return to court July 19 as well to set a date for his preliminary hearing.
The couple were charged with three felony counts of child abuse, one pertaining to their 1-year-old son, and the others for allegedly exposing his 3year-old sister and 4-year-old brother to fentanyl as well, under circumstances “likely to cause great bodily injury or death.” Lompoc police, firefighters and AMR ambulance crew responded at 11:14 a.m. on Jan. 5 to a residence at 800 N. F St.
regarding a 1-year-old child who was unresponsive. A police investigation revealed the 1year-old had been exposed to fentanyl. The child was administered Narcan (naloxone) by fire and medical personnel on the scene and was revived. The child was transported to the Lompoc Valley Medical Center for further medical care. Mr. Roberts and Ms. McCoy were both arrested for felony child endangerment.
The couple pleaded not guilty at their Jan. 9 arraignment. If she had been convicted of all three charges, Ms. McCoy could have received a maximum sentence of eight years, eight months in state prison. Mr. Roberts still could if his case goes to trial and he is convicted. The criminal complaint filed against them alleged the couple created Please see FENTANYL on A4
Performing next to the audience A trombone player with the Brasscals interacts with the audience Tuesday at Stearns Wharf. The large band, which consists of brass, woodwind and percussion players, started walking around people dancing and others during a song. For another photo, see B2.
Guadalupe woman found dead in San Diego By LIAM HIBBERT NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT
Last seen July 1 and identified as a missing person July 2, Leyva Elizabeth Oregel from Guadalupe was found dead in a San Diego parking lot this past Tuesday. Ms. Oregel, 32, was found dead in a car on the 4400 block of Camino De La Plaza in San Ysidro, a neighborhood in San Diego, at approximately 12:24 a.m. on July 4 by a civilian. It is still early in the investigation. and little is known about the circumstances leading up to Ms. Oregel’s death. Detectives have determined she suffered blunt force trauma to her upper body that indicates her death was a homicide. San Diego homicide detectives are currently working with investigators from the Guadalupe Police Department and Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. This is an ongoing investigation. There is no information about suspects at this time. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the San Diego Police Homicide Unit at 619-531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at 888-5808477. DAVE MASON / NEWS-PRESS
email: lhibbert@newspress.com
NEWS-PRESS EXCLUSIVE
Ojai drug dealer pleads guilty to selling fentanyl, methamphetamine By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS COUNTY EDITOR
An Ojai drug dealer who overdosed in his car last month in Carpinteria pleaded guilty Wednesday to three felony drug sales charges including the possession for sale of fentanyl and methamphetamine, prosecutors said. He also pleaded guilty to the possession for sale and sale of ketamine, another felony, as well as the aggravating factors alleged. The defendant, Christopher Elizalde,
26, is scheduled to return to court on Aug. 9 for sentencing, “at which time the remaining counts and allegations will be dismissed,” Senior Deputy District Attorney Anthony Davis told the NewsPress. “The plea agreement is for a twoyear felony probation, 270 days in jail with early release to a residential drug treatment program, and other terms and conditions as outlined by Probation at the time of sentencing,” the prosecutor said. Mr. Elizalde remained in custody as of Thursday on $260,000 bail.
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Bureau to author search and arrest warrants for Mr. Elizalde and his Ojai residence. Later that evening, at approximately 8:30 p.m., detectives served a search warrant at his home in the 1200 block of Gregory Street in Ojai, where they reported recovering additional fentanyl, heroin, oxycodone M30 pills and cocaine. As a result of their investigation, approximately 2.9 ounces of ketamine, 1.82 pounds of fentanyl, 1.16 pounds of cocaine, 4.6 ounces of heroin, 4.7 ounces of methamphetamine, 616 oxycodone M30
pills, and 50 benzodiazepine pills were taken off the streets, the sheriff’s office said. Mr. Elizalde pleaded not guilty at his first arraignment on April 27. A preliminary hearing in his case was held on May 11, at which time he was held to answer on the charged felony offenses and ordered to stand trial. He pleaded not guilty again May 31 to nine felony counts filed against him, including possession for sale of fentanyl, Please see DRUGS on A4
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He was arrested on April 22 by sheriff’s deputies who responded around 3:15 p.m. to the 5900 block of Birch Street in Carpinteria to a report of a man who was unresponsive in his car. When they arrived, they found a man, later identified as Mr. Elizalde, unresponsive with drug paraphernalia in his lap. Also in the vehicle, deputies found a large quantity of dangerous drugs including suspected fentanyl, M30 pills, cocaine and ketamine. Sheriff’s deputies worked with detectives from the Special Investigations
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