BY: Mike Cruz
sbsun.com
SAN BERNARDINO - A Redlands woman rejected a plea bargain Tuesday in connection with a methamphetamine trafficking ring who authorities say is headed by Cal State professor and motorcycle club president Steve Kinzey. Chelsea Johnson, 34, appeared before Judge Kenneth Barr in San Bernardino Superior Court where prosecutors say she turned down their offer worth nine months in county jail.
Johnson was given an option of participating in the 90-day Inroads drug program and finished the rest of the time on weekends, or completing the whole term at once, as straight time.
In return, Johnson would have to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Nothing in Johnson's plea bargain would have required her to cooperate with prosecutors, Deputy District Attorney Steve Sanchez said later by telephone.
Johnson's lawyer, John-Paul Serrao, confirmed in court that his client was extended the plea bargain.
Johnson and co-defendant Eric Cortez head for a preliminary hearing on Thursday. Cortez, 31, also of Redlands, and Johnson have invoked their right to a preliminary hearing within 10 court days of arraignment, and neither are waiving time.
Kinzey allegedly purchased large amounts of meth from Jeremy Disney, 30, of San Bernardino and distributed those quantities to Johnson and Cortez, who then split the drugs into smaller amounts for midlevel and street-level dealers, said San Bernardino County sheriff's
Detective Jason Rosenbaum. Kinzey is president of the San Bernardino Mountains chapter of the Devil's Diciples, a group founded in Fontana in 1967, deputies said. He also has taught kinesiology at Cal State San Bernardino for 10 years.
Local, county and federal law enforcement launched the "Devil's Professor" investigation six months ago, which culminated in a raid Aug. 26 at Kinzey's East Highlands Ranch home, deputies said.
Rosenbaum said deputies intercepted a pound of meth that was being delivered to the residence.
Kinzey, Johnson, Cortez and several other defendants were named in a criminal complaint filed Aug. 30 in San Bernardino Superior Court. Kinzey is scheduled to appear in court Friday for a bail hearing.
Other suspects in the investigation, authorities said, are Holly Robinson, 33, of Highland, identified as Kinzey`s girlfriend; Hans Preszler, 51, of San Bernardino; Edward Freer, 43, of Helendale; Christopher Rikerd, 37, Elaine Flores, 35, and Stephanie Padilla, 33, all of Redlands; and Wendi Witherell, 34, of Mentone.
Read more: http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_18887352#ixzz1XzB8JpPl
Johnson was given an option of participating in the 90-day Inroads drug program and finished the rest of the time on weekends, or completing the whole term at once, as straight time.
In return, Johnson would have to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Nothing in Johnson's plea bargain would have required her to cooperate with prosecutors, Deputy District Attorney Steve Sanchez said later by telephone.
Johnson's lawyer, John-Paul Serrao, confirmed in court that his client was extended the plea bargain.
Johnson and co-defendant Eric Cortez head for a preliminary hearing on Thursday. Cortez, 31, also of Redlands, and Johnson have invoked their right to a preliminary hearing within 10 court days of arraignment, and neither are waiving time.
Kinzey allegedly purchased large amounts of meth from Jeremy Disney, 30, of San Bernardino and distributed those quantities to Johnson and Cortez, who then split the drugs into smaller amounts for midlevel and street-level dealers, said San Bernardino County sheriff's
Detective Jason Rosenbaum. Kinzey is president of the San Bernardino Mountains chapter of the Devil's Diciples, a group founded in Fontana in 1967, deputies said. He also has taught kinesiology at Cal State San Bernardino for 10 years.
Local, county and federal law enforcement launched the "Devil's Professor" investigation six months ago, which culminated in a raid Aug. 26 at Kinzey's East Highlands Ranch home, deputies said.
Rosenbaum said deputies intercepted a pound of meth that was being delivered to the residence.
Kinzey, Johnson, Cortez and several other defendants were named in a criminal complaint filed Aug. 30 in San Bernardino Superior Court. Kinzey is scheduled to appear in court Friday for a bail hearing.
Other suspects in the investigation, authorities said, are Holly Robinson, 33, of Highland, identified as Kinzey`s girlfriend; Hans Preszler, 51, of San Bernardino; Edward Freer, 43, of Helendale; Christopher Rikerd, 37, Elaine Flores, 35, and Stephanie Padilla, 33, all of Redlands; and Wendi Witherell, 34, of Mentone.
Read more: http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_18887352#ixzz1XzB8JpPl