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."