Wisconsin couple arrested with 23 pounds of pot

A Wisconsin couple face drug charges after the two were arrested by the North Central Narcotics Task Force on April 24.

Guadalupe Ronzon, 20, of Milwaukee and Abimael Roman Espinoza, 24, of Racine, were booked by the task force after a K-9 unit discovered 19 bags of marijuana weighing more than 20 pounds. Ronzon appeared Thursday in Justice Court and her bail was lowered to $2,500.

Espinoza, however, did not appear in court and is scheduled for a hearing Thursday.

Ronzon’s attorney, Dave Neidert, asked for his client to be released on her own recognizance. She is a nursing student in her fourth year, wants to return to Wisconsin to graduate and will not fail to appear if another hearing is scheduled, he added.

He and Churchill County Senior Deputy Distict Attorney Ben Shawcroft said the case is being negotiated aggressively, although the outcome for his client may depend on Espinoza.

Neidert said the felony charges could be lowered to one or two misdemeanor counts depending on statements or negotiations from Espinoza and his attorney, Jacob Sommer.

Neidert pressed to Justice of the Peace Mike Richards that his client would abide by any stipulations for a release, but if bail was set Ronzon’s sister, who travelled from Wisconsin, could pay the bond.

According to court documents, the couple were driving east from Reno on Interstate-80 when they were pulled over in their blue Honda Ridgeline for speeding. The task force reported stated Espinoza was driving 82 mph in a 75 mph zone.

According to records, an investigator detected an odor of grease coming from the vehicle. Espinoza reportedly gave authorities permission to search the vehicle.

The K-9 unit discovered a black trash bag under the bed of the vehicle with 19 bundles of marijuana. Ben Shawcroft said the total weight was 23.7 pounds.

The two said they were in California to visit Ronzon’s cousin.

Both are charged with one count of offer, attempt or commission of an unauthorized act relating to a controlled substance and one count of possession of a schedule I or II controlled substance. The charges carry a sentence of one to six years in prison and one to four years, respectively.