A Cortez man faces up to three years incarceration for distribution of 3.2 grams of heroin.
Jeffrey Joe Willett, 62, pleaded guilty to distribution of a controlled substance, a Class 3 drug felony, during a court appearance Thursday at the Montezuma County Combined Courthouse.
As part of a plea deal, Willett could be sentenced to serve up to three years in either a Department of Corrections prison or in a communication corrections facility that focuses more on rehabilitation.
Sentencing is set for April 8.
His defense attorney, Richard Sims, requested the court issue Willett a personal recognizance bond, or a bond of no more than $500 so he could temporarily leave jail to secure his personal belongings and continue with Axis mental health treatment before reporting for his sentence.
Regarding a reduced bond request, Assistant DA Will Furse noted Willett has a criminal history involving illegal drugs. He did not recommend a PR bond, and suggested it be higher than $500.
Furse said Willet’s distribution offense did not involve a high volume of heroin, and prosecutors believe the sale was to supplement his own habit, versus a more sophisticated illegal drug enterprise.
District Judge Doug Walker set the bond to $5,000 cash surety.
Willet was taken into custody Dec. 30 at the Cortez City Market on a warrant that alleged he sold 3.2 grams of heroin at a residence south of Cortez to an undercover agent Aug. 26.
The undercover operation was conducted jointly by the Montezuma-Cortez Tactical Narcotics Team and the Region 2 Drug Task Force in Farmington.
The type of heroin allegedly sold, known as China White, is “alarming” because of its dangerously high potency, said Cortez Police Detective Tom Quinnett.
“This is the first case where local law enforcement has seen this type of heroin in the community and surrounding areas,” he said. “China White has been linked to heroin overdose death across the United States. Using any illegal drug is bad, but people who buy or consume China White may think they are buying the more typical black tar or brown heroin and end up using a drug that is much stronger than they anticipated.”
According to the arrest affidavit, the Region 2 Drug Task Force in Farmington informed Cortez police of a potential source of drug supply in Cortez.
A confidential informant and undercover agent negotiated and conducted the purchase, and the operation was closely monitored by law enforcement positioned nearby, according to the arrest affidavit. The confidential informant was equipped with an audio listening device.
The suspected drug transaction took place at a residence on the corner of E. Seventh Street and Sligo Street in south Cortez, which is less than 1,000 feet from the Montezuma-Cortez High School, according to police reports.