Pubdate: Sat, 08 Jan 2005 Source: Santa Cruz Sentinel (CA) Copyright: 2005 Santa Cruz Sentinel Contact: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/394 Author: Cathy Redfern, Sentinel staff writer CONVICTED DRUG DEALER MAY FACE 'THIRD STRIKE' SENTENCE SANTA CRUZ -- A 34-year-old Santa Cruz man faces a possible life sentence under the state's "three strikes" law after jurors Wednesday convicted him of selling methamphetamine. Jurors deliberated about eight hours before finding Jaime Aguilar Chavez guilty of possessing drugs, conspiracy and drug sales, said Ariadne Symons, head of trial operations for the District Attorney's Office. Chavez was arrested Jan. 8, 2004, and accused of possessing almost 5 pounds of methamphetamine, Symons said. "We don't see drugs at this level very often," Symons said. "It's a very good victory for our community, and it was a very difficult case due to the cagey way these drugs are sold. It was a circumstantial case based on phone calls and other evidence, and (prosecutor) George Dunlap did an excellent job." Chavez has prior "strikes" and could get a life sentence, but Judge Jeff Almquist has the option of disregarding those strikes. A sentencing date has not been set, as Chavez has another case pending -- a February arrest for drug sales -- and it is unclear whether he will be sentenced before that case. His prior record includes a 1998 conviction for possessing methamphetamine and a 1992 conviction for transporting cocaine for sale and using a minor to sell drugs, court records show. He was sentenced to three years in prison in the 1998 case and six years in prison in the 1992 case. Defense attorney Bill Minkner said his client was never found with drugs, but a Live Oak man found with methamphetamine told officers he got it from Chavez. Jurors heard a taped conversation between the man and someone he was calling "Jaime." But, he said, there was never any analysis of the tape or comparison with Chavez's voice. "I think the jurors did the very best with the evidence they had," he said. "They heard two police officers saying they knew that voice is Jaime's ... ." The informant cut a deal with investigators, Minkner said, but Richard Westphal, commander of the Narcotic Enforcement Team, denied that. He said Chavez's arrest "put a hurt out there for a while." - --- MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman