People v. Vega CA6

I. BACKGROUND

In November 2009, the Monterey County District Attorney charged Vega with (1) felony transportation and sale of cocaine (Health & Saf. Code, § 11352, subd. (a)); (2) felony transportation of methamphetamine (Health & Saf. Code, § 11379, subd. (a)); (3) felony possession of cocaine for sale (Health & Saf. Code, § 11351); (4) felony possession of methamphetamine for sale (Health & Saf. Code, § 11378); (5) felony possession of marijuana for sale (Health & Saf. Code, § 11359); and (6) misdemeanor possession of false government identification (§ 529.5, subd. (c)). At the preliminary hearing, Detective Sergeant Bruno Dias testified that he detained Vega and a woman during a suspected hand-to-hand drug sale. Vega had a bindle of powder cocaine in his hand and more bindles—cocaine and methamphetamine—in his backpack. The woman admitted she had intended to purchase $20 worth of cocaine from Vega. Vega admitted selling cocaine and methamphetamine, explaining that he had begun a few weeks earlier, lacking the resources to care for his young children. Law enforcement found additional drugs, a digital scale, a cutting agent, and a suspected pay-owe sheet. Vega’s phone rang as…