Pubdate: Tue, 07 Dec 1999 Source: Santa Barbara News-Press (CA) Copyright: 1999 Santa Barbara News-Press Contact: http://www.newspress.com/ Author: Chuck Schultz , News-press Staff Writer, CONTRACTOR PLEADS NO CONTEST IN DRUG CASE For Eight Months, Michael Sierra Had Said He Was Innocent Of Cocaine Charges. With no explanation for his sudden change of heart and no promises as to what his punishment will be, a Goleta contractor pleaded no contest Monday to buying 15 pounds of cocaine from an undercover officer in April. An hour before jury selection was to begin for his Superior Court trial, Michael Sierra admitted to all eight felony counts against him, which carry a potential sentence of up to 13 years and four months in state prison. The charges included possessing more than 4 kilograms of cocaine for sale, conspiracy to sell cocaine, attempting to transport cocaine, possessing over $100,000 cash with the intent to illegally purchase cocaine, and four counts of being a felon in possession of guns. The 46-year-old was convicted of felony possession of cocaine in 1985. Sierra, who owns a sandblasting business, was arrested by Santa Barbara police the evening of April 16 this year, immediately after he purchased 7 kilograms of cocaine - about 15 pounds - from an undercover officer at a parking lot near East Beach, police said. For nearly eight months, Sierra had pleaded innocent to the charges against him. While being interviewed by a News-Press reporter in May, he claimed "there were no drugs, period" and described himself as a church-going family man. He is married and has four children. Deputy District Attorney Gordon Auchincloss and defense attorney Steve Balash could not comment on Sierra's sudden change of pleas because Judge James Brown imposed a "gag order" preventing the lawyers from discussing the case with news reporters until Sierra is sentenced. "There is no agreement as to sentencing in this case," Auchincloss said in court Monday. "The District Attorney's office has made no promises and the judge has made no promises." During the sting operation, Sierra told an undercover officer that he would be interested in purchasing that same amount of cocaine (15 pounds) every two to three weeks and that he was willing to pay $14,500 per kilogram, according to testimony at his preliminary hearing in September. A hidden microphone worn by the undercover officer recorded their conversation and allowed other officers nearby to listen in as the cocaine - - which had been borrowed from a Sheriff's Department evidence locker - was purchased by Sierra with $101,500 cash he had brought with him in a black duffel bag. His arrest moments later struck at an international cocaine pipeline that stretched from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara, then to northern San Luis Obispo County and on to Canada and Norway, detectives said. No information was available, however, on how much Sierra personally profited from that drug trafficking network, how long it had been active or how many other people were involved. Under state law, Sierra almost certainly will be sentenced to prison because of the amount of cocaine and cash involved in his illicit transaction. Brown allowed Sierra to remain free on $250,000 bail until his sentencing hearing, the date of which has not been set. When authorities searched Sierra's home on Cinderella Lane in Goleta in April, they found a 12-gauge shotgun and two Smith and Wesson .357-caliber revolvers, police said. A fourth gun belonging to him, a .357 Magnum handgun, was also found at an undisclosed location, police said. State law prohibits anyone convicted of a felony from owning or possessing any firearm. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D