Inebriated Pair Arrested With 5.5 Pounds of Meth While Taking Care of 3-Month Old Baby
Photo: Paquita Lopez and Mario Lemus
27-year old Mario Lemus of Plainview was on detectives’ radar, suspected of selling drugs. After learning Lemus was on active county probation for drug sales and wanted for a drug sales related felony arrest warrant, the Porterville Police Department Narcotics Investigations Unit were granted a search warrant for Lemus’ vehicle, residence, and person.
The search warrant was executed on November 5th, about 10:30 AM, at the Super 8 Motel in Lindsay, where detectives spotted Lemus’ parked vehicle. Lemus was located and detectives proceeded to his hotel room.
the confiscated meth
A second suspect was located in the room: 37-year old Plainview resident Paquita Lopez with whom Lemus shares a 3-month old child, also present in the hotel room. Detectives confiscated 5.5 pounds of methamphetamine packaged for sale, drug paraphernalia, and other evidence supporting the pair were selling drugs.
Lemus and Paquita both failed a filed sobriety test, and given they were in custody of a 3-month of baby whom they kept in a motel room maintained for the sale and use of methamphetamine, the detectives determined the child was in grave danger.
After finding further evidence of drugs sales in his residence, Lemus and Paquita were arrested and booked into the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office South County Detention Center.
Both could face charges for possession of methamphetamine for sale, maintaining a residence for sale and use of drugs, felony child endangerment, under the influence of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and conspiracy. In addition, Lemus will have to answer for the outstanding felony warrant. Bail set at $250,000 each.
Photos from Porterville Police Department
