Former San Jacinto Lopez councilor admits marijuana and domestic violence allegations – press enterprise

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A man who was kicked out of San Jacinto City Council by his colleagues this summer after being accused of illegally operating a marijuana and domestic violence dispensary pleaded guilty to the cases on Wednesday, December 1 and was sentenced to a year in prison.

With credits, Joel Lopez, also known as Joel Lopezdeanda, will serve 241 days in custody, according to John Hall, spokesperson for the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.

Lopez, 36, pleaded in court, admitting felony charges of conspiring and maintaining an illegal marijuana plant and misdemeanor charges of selling cannabis without a license and failing to file a sales tax return and use with the state.

The prosecutor’s office argued for a prison sentence for Lopez, an argument that was recognized by the judge.

On June 23, Lopez’s co-accused Edward Padilla, 33, pleaded guilty to felony conspiracy and was sentenced to 163 days in the out-of-county placement program.

In the domestic violence case, Lopez pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon (without a gun), uttering criminal threats and inflicting bodily harm on a spouse, as well as than one count of misdemeanor on the latter charge.

Lopez will serve the sentences for both cases at the same time.

He was charged with marijuana-related crimes in June. The dispensary, located in the 1100 block of San Jacinto Avenue, was known as the “Santa Fe Co-Op”, “Santa Fe Collective” or “Santa Fe”. Lopez and others illegally sold products in storefronts and a delivery service, according to the indictment.

Then, on August 5, Lopez was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence.

Council members noted after the marijuana application was filed that Lopez was innocent until proven guilty, but took swift action after the domestic violence arrest. They voted 4-0 on August 17 to censor Lopez, removing him from the board, Deputy Clerk Julie Espinoza said. Planning Commissioner Michael Heath was appointed by the board on October 19 to replace Lopez.

Heath will serve the remainder of Lopez’s tenure, which expires in November 2022, Espinoza said.

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