[1]Francisco J. Guerrero, left, and his girlfriend Jennifer M. Hayes, wait while attorneys finish signing documents during their arraignment in Lewis County Superior Court.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – The Vader couple arrested after an investigation into what police called a large supplier of heroin in Lewis and Cowlitz counties appeared in court yesterday afternoon with their lawyers for a brief hearing.
Francisco “Poncho” Guerrero, 36, is represented by James K. Morgan; and Jennifer M. Hayes, 33, is represented by John Hays. Both attorneys have offices in Longview.
When police searched the home on Alpine Court on Dec. 29, they seized heroin, cocaine, cash and a handgun, as well as a motorcycle. The investigation was conducted by the Centralia Police Department’s special Anti-Crime Team, Chehalis police detectives and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.
For unspecified reasons, police did not arrest them until last week. They have been free on bail and returned to Lewis County Superior Court yesterday afternoon for arraignment.
Hayes is charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver, involving heroin and cocaine.
Guerrero is charged similarly, along with one count of delivery of heroin and one count of first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.
Both pleaded not guilty yesterday to all charges.
Defense attorney Hays told Judge Nelson Hunt he’d like to schedule a review hearing for next week, as he discovered the prosecutor got a judge to seal the document police presented to secure the search warrant.
Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Paul Masiello told the judge the state would oppose any request for unsealing. He said the office policy is to withhold that information in order to protect confidential informants, and once that information becomes known by the defense, any possible plea deals are taken off the table.
Judge Hunt agreed they could set a hearing for next Thursday afternoon to take up the matter.
Hunt also scheduled their trials for the week of May 11.
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For background, read “Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup – POLICE: VADER HEROIN DEALING COUPLE BUSTED” from Saturday March 7, 2015, here [2]