MAN GIVES GUILTY PLEA IN D.M. DRUG STING GONE BAD

Lee Castillo Agrees To Spend Up To 30 Years In Prison For Meth Trafficking

One of two Des Moines men involved in what police say was a drug
sting-turned-shootout at a south-side hotel in May agreed Wednesday to
spend up to 30 years in state prison.

Lee Castillo, 27, pleaded guilty to methamphetamine trafficking charges
that stemmed from an incident May 10 at the Heartland Inn, 1901 S.W.
Hackley Ave.

Five people, including both suspects, were wounded.

Polk County authorities say Castillo and Dennis "D.J." Schofield, 25, went
to the hotel on May 10 to purchase roughly 2 pounds of "ice," a pure form
of meth, from undercover Des Moines police officers.

Castillo, who had been scheduled for trial on Monday, testified Wednesday
that he did not know Schofield had a gun until police identified themselves
and Schofield pulled the weapon.

Police say three officers were shot in the hotel hallway and a stairwell.
One, struck at "nearly point-blank range" as he held his hands in front of
his face, took both a bullet to his hands and shrapnel to the face from a
shattered cell phone he was holding.

Schofield and Castillo were also shot. Castillo spent roughly 11 days in
the hospital with injuries to his buttocks and groin.

Schofield is scheduled for trial next month on drug charges and 10 counts
of attempted murder. Court papers say he intends to argue self-defense and
entrapment.

Castillo's lawyer, public defender John Wellman, said the drug deal arose
when Castillo was approached by "an individual who was working with the
police" to help sell the meth. Castillo paired the undercover officers with
Schofield.

Castillo said Wednesday that he "had no idea" what he would get from the
deal, but that "I was asking" for money.

Castillo could be eligible for parole in fewer than five years.