Garndara Jr.’s plea hearing is rescheduled to July 30
The U.S. District Clerk office confirmed to ABC7 Monday morning that the plea hearing for former El Paso County Commissioner Willie Gandara Jr. has been rescheduled for 2 p.m. July 30 in Federal Judge Frank Montalvo’s courtroom.
The hearing was originally scheduled for July 26 .
Attorneys for three men facing possession of marijuana charges in connection with the alleged drug smuggling case involving former County Commissioner Willie Gandara, Jr. asked a judge for more time to enter guilty pleas.
Frank Macias, who’s representing Javier Betancourt, told Montalvo he would need six to eight weeks to enter a plea for his client. Josh Spencer, who represents Ramon Adrian Rubio-Covarrubias, said he would need the same amount of time for his client.
Betancourt, Rubio-Covarrubias and Edgar Omar Barron are all facing charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
They were named in connection with Gandara’s alleged drug trafficking ring in February. Gandara was arrested in February, accused of trying to smuggle 124 pounds of marijuana through the Sierra Blanca checkpoint.
Alleged Gandara co-conspirator Juan Canales pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute. Canales is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 25.
Macias and Spencer confirm with ABC-7 that their clients will plead guilty. Macias said Betancourt will likely plead to one of the existing counts, while Spencer did not want to elaborate to what charge Rubio-Covarrubias will plead guilty. Barron’s attorney was out of town and his office was not able to supply anyone to comment on the status of his case.
