Arraignment postponed for alleged dealer

By Jim Tiffin
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — An alleged local drug dealer, who was arrested at his home with several video cameras taping every movement outside, has had his arraignment delayed by request of his attorney, said Deputy 13th Judicial District Attorney Randolph M. Collins.

The arraignment of Brandon Strickland, 21, of 25 Camino De Belinda, in 13th Judicial District Court should take place within the next few weeks, he said.

An arraignment is where the defendant enters a plea of guilty, not guilty and the prosecutors and defense attorneys work with the judge on the conditions for the defendant's release, Collins said.

A hearing set for Friday was not held because of the request to continue the proceedings, Collins said.

Strickland was arrested twice late last year, Oct. 23, in connection with false imprisonment and battery of a Continental Divide meter reader at Strickland's residence and again on Nov. 10, in connection with trafficking of narcotics with intent to distribute, receiving a stolen vehicle and possession of drug paraphernalia.

In the October incident, Strickland allegedly closed a gate and locked it not allowing the meter reader to leave, according to district court records.

When a second meter reader arrived, a confrontation occurred between Strickland and the second meter reader, whom Strickland slapped, according to court records.

A search warrant was subsequently issued because of the video cameras, the locked gate and reports of having the outside of the home and grounds under 24 hour per day video surveillance, court records state.

During the search of Strickland's home, while officers were seeking videotapes of the incident between Strickland and the meter reader, Cibola County Deputy Sheriff Mike Oelchner and a New Mexico State Police Officer Mike Cruz, found an electronic scale and a prescription bottle. At this point the officers left the residence and secured an additional search warrant for drugs and drug related paraphernalia, court records state.

The drugs tested positive for methamphetamine later at the Sheriff's office, court records state.

Additionally, weapons were found: a Western field 12-gauge shotgun, a Mossberg 12 gauge shotgun, a Remington 20 gauge shotgun, a Mossberg 410 gauge shotgun, a 22 caliber rifle, an M-11 automatic weapon, a two shot 22 caliber Derringer, a 22 ma automatic weapon with no cylinder and a Desert Eagle 5C weapon, according to court records.

The officers also found $4,200 in cash, digital scales for weighing drugs, compartments with bags of white pills (methamphetaine), small bags with 13 bags of suspected methamphetamine inside and a large plastic wrap containing suspected methamphetamine, according to court records.

As of Monday, Strickland was still in Cibola County Detention Center on a $100,000 bond.

If prosecuted and convicted of all of the charges, three felonies and a petty misdemeanor, Strickland could serve up to 13 years in state prison, with a fine of up to $20,000, or both.

To contact reporter Jim Tiffin, call (505) 287-2197 or e-mail: jtiffin.independent@yahoo.com.