Gallup man charged with drug trafficking

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Phil Stake
Staff writer

MAYER, Ariz. — A Gallup man charged with violent crimes five times in New Mexico — but never convicted — faces charges in Arizona.

Jimmy Gonzalez, 30, was arrested by Yavapai County Sheriff’s deputies Tuesday after they found nearly 20 pounds of marijuana and “several ounces” of cocaine in his car, according to a news release issued Wednesday by the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office. Police also found a .40-caliber handgun, for which he faces weapons charges.

Deputies stopped Gonzalez for equipment violations.

Gonzalez said he was taking the passenger, 27-year-old Joseph Gonzalez, to New Mexico. He said Joseph is his brother and that he has medical problems.

But his story changed, prompting police to use a K-9 to sniff around the outside of the car. Gonzales then told police he had a gun under his seat, having said previously that he did not have any guns in the car.

The K-9 led police to Gonzalez’s trunk, where they found several “bricks” of marijuana, and more than two ounces of cocaine stuffed inside a small felt bag. Police have charged Gonzalez with transporting narcotics and transporting marijuana — Arizona second- and third-degree felonies, respectively.

In New Mexico, Gonzalez was charged in 2002 with aggravated battery on a household member, using a deadly weapon and resulting in great bodily harm. Along with felony battery, police charged him with false imprisonment. Both were dismissed before trial, according to court records.

In 2004, Gonzalez faced felony burglary, which he pleaded to a misdemeanor. Later the same year, police arrested Gonzalez on assault and battery charges, which were later dismissed by prosecutors. And in 2005, police arrested Gonzales for battery and felony child abuse. Prosecutors dismissed the battery charge, and the judge dismissed the child abuse charge when prosecutors failed to appear.