Jury finds Fuentes guilty of drug trafficking

A Carson City jury deliberated just over 30 minutes Tuesday before returning a guilty verdict on a charge of drug trafficking against Fidel Fuentes, a notorious Carson City gang member who's eluded convictions in a number of high profile cases over the years.

"I'm happy with the verdict. It's great that (the penalty) is mandatory prison," said District Attorney Neil Rombardo. "He needs to go to prison."

The trial began just before lunch Monday and Rombardo rested his case the same afternoon.

On Tuesday, defense attorney Kay Ellen Armstrong offered one witness on Fuentes' behalf " Sam Person, 26, the man with whom Fuentes was arrested Sept. 22 outside a Stewart Street motel.

Person was convicted in October and is serving one to four years. He took the stand in prison denims because the civilian clothes provided for him didn't fit.

Through Person's testimony, Armstrong attempted to show that a search of Fuentes, 26, was illegal, despite Judge Jim Wilson's ruling the previous day that the 7.69 grams of methamphetamine found in Fuentes' waistband was admissible.

Rombardo challenged Person on his claim that he didn't see the officers across the street at a stoplight when he and Fuentes walked off Robinson Street into the motel parking lot.

"Going into the motel had nothing to do with the police," said Person. "Trust me, if I knew they were police I'd have never let them get that close with drugs on me."

"You're not going to let them get that close because you have super powers." Rombardo scoffed, to which Armstrong objected.

Fuentes did not testify and he did not react when the verdict was read. He faces one to six years in prison and a $50,000 fine when sentenced Feb. 24.

A felony charge of battery by an inmate is also pending against Fuentes for an alleged assault on a rival gang member while Fuentes was in custody on the meth charge.

A preliminary hearing date in that case has yet to be set.

Fuentes, a self-proclaimed gang member, has been arrested numerous times over the last five years for offenses including domestic battery, kidnapping, accessory to attempted murder and possession of stolen property or dangerous weapons. Almost all of the charges against him have been either been dismissed or reduced. He most recently served 10 months in the Douglas County Jail for a charge of possession of stolen property in connection with a high-speed police chase in Indian Hills.

Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.