Mendel Jeffrey Techur, 37, a Koblerville resident, and Anthony Villanueva, 32, a resident of As Gonno, appeared before Superior Court Associate Judge Ramona V. Manglona for their initial appearance yesterday.
Manglona retained the $30,000 cash bail earlier imposed by Presiding Judge Robert C. Naraja on Techur and Villanueva.
Techur and Villanueva were charged with possession, conspiracy, and trafficking of “ice.”
Manglona denied without prejudice the oral motion to reduce bail for Villanueva.
Assistant Attorney General Benjamin Petersburg represented the government while Assistant Public Defender Richard Miller was appointed as Villanueva’s counsel.
Techur and Villanueva were remanded to the custody of the Department of Corrections after the hearing.
On Oct. 7, 2010, Detective Steven A. Castro said the department’s Criminal Investigation Bureau conducted a recorded and monitored controlled buy from Techur through a cooperating source.
Associate Judge Kenneth L. Govendo authorized an eavesdropping search warrant against Techur.
Police purchased $50 worth of “ice” from Techur.
After a phone call, the cooperating source and Techur met in the parking lot of Smile Poker in Chalan Kanoa.
At that time, Techur was inside a maroon Toyota Camry operated by Villanueva.
When field tested, the substance bought from Techur indicated the presence of crystal methamphetamine, Castro said.
Further investigation showed that Techur had been arrested in the past for drug related charges, Castro said.
