Three sentenced in two unrelated heroin cases; preliminary hearing set for fourth suspect

By Neal Putnam

Three people who were charged with selling heroin in Ramona in two unrelated cases have been sentenced to time they have already served in jail and were placed on three years probation. A fourth suspect awaits a preliminary hearing later this month in one of the two cases.

Two suspects, Chris Melero, 34, of Ramona, and Zazil Saul, 22, of Imperial Beach, pleaded guilty to selling heroin and asked for immediate sentencing on July 29. Melero and Saul received credits for seven and two days, respectively, they have served in jail.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Frank Brown ordered Melero to perform 20 days of public service work.

Both were fined $1,070.

Melero pleaded guilty to the lone drug charge filed against him when he, Saul, and Monica Leslie Tejero, 45, of Ramona, were arrested in June.

Saul had one charge of selling heroin dismissed after pleading guilty to one heroin sale. On a court document, Saul wrote, “I aided in the sale of heroin.”

Tejero remains charged with five counts of selling or furnishing heroin to an informant. Several charges allege Tejero sold the drug at a Main Street thrift store where she used to work or outside in the parking lot. She awaits an Aug. 23 preliminary hearing.

Joseph Paul Price, 25, pleaded guilty to two heroin sales in March 2010 in Ramona and was sentenced July 27 to 392 days he has already served in jail that includes a sentence from another heroin case.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Theodore Weathers fined him $1,214 and ordered Price to participate in a drug treatment program.

Price was arrested Feb. 8, 2010, at a sober living facility in Ramona by sheriff’s deputies. He pleaded guilty to possession for heroin for sale on March 3, 2010, and received one year in jail from El Cajon Superior Court Judge Charles Ervin.

Tejero is charged with selling heroin on five different days in February and March. She is also charged with possession of heroin for sale on June 2, and with the allegation that the transactions occurred within 1,000 feet of Ramona Elementary School.

One alleged sale took place in the laundry room of her apartment complex in Ramona. Tejero has pleaded not guilty and remains free on $100,000 bond.