People v. Lopez CA3

BACKGROUND

A. Placer County Superior Court, case No. 62-192483 (case No. 483) On June 28, 2023, around 3:00 in the morning, law enforcement searched a truck that Lopez was driving. Inside the rear compartment of the truck, they found a light gray

1 backpack, and inside that backpack they found a “meth pipe,” two “baggies” of methamphetamine, and a third “baggie” of methamphetamine that was colored blue. They also found approximately 50 empty “baggies.” In total, law enforcement found approximately 50 grams of methamphetamine. The People charged Lopez with one count of transporting methamphetamine for the purpose of sale (Health & Saf. Code, § 11379, subd. (a)), felony possession of methamphetamine (Health & Saf. Code, § 11378), misdemeanor possession of a smoking device (Health & Saf. Code, § 11364, subd. (a)), and petty theft (Pen. Code, § 488). The information was later amended to include an allegation that Lopez was on probation at the time of the offense as an aggravating factor. Lopez pled no contest to transporting methamphetamine (Health & Saf. Code, § 11379, subd. (a)) and admitted he was on probation at the time he committed the offense. In exchange for his plea,…