A former Department of Public Safety boating safety officer has been sentenced to five years in prison after admitting in court to trafficking crystal methamphetamine, marking another conviction as the government intensifies its crackdown on illegal drugs.
Superior Court Judge Kenneth L. Govendo on Thursday sentenced Shane Mendiola to five yearsâ imprisonment, with two years and six months suspended. He was also credited with 117 days for time already served.
Mendiola is scheduled for release from the Department of Corrections on Jan. 4, 2028.
Upon release, he will be placed on five yearsâ probation and evaluated by the Community Guidance Center for recommended treatment, including anger management, mental health, and substance abuse. He will also be subject to blood, breath, and urine testing.
Mendiola was initially charged with two counts of trafficking a controlled substance and one count of possession.
He pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking, which Judge Govendo accepted during a hearing on Oct. 30. Mendiola was represented by Chief Public Defender Douglas Hartig. Chief Prosecutor Chester Hinds appeared for the government.
According to court documents, âOn or about Oct. 10, 2024, Mendiola…unlawfully manufactured, delivered or possessed with intent to manufacture, deliver or dispense, a controlled substance, to wit: crystal methamphetamine.â
The documents also state that âon or about Oct. 16, 2024, Mendiola unlawfully, knowingly or intentionally possessed a controlled substance, to wit: crystal methamphetamine, obtained during an execution of an arrest warrant.â