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Second-time drug offenders plead guilty

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By Neal Putnam

Two people in Ramona who were offered deferred prosecution after their first drug arrests were arrested again, and both pleaded guilty Aug. 22 to heroin possession charges.

Deferred prosecution is only available to first time drug offenders and, if they have no other arrests, their drug charge can be dismissed after about a year. According to court records, two Ramona residents are now in jail after picking up another drug case.

Bryanna Mae Ertman, 21, pleaded guilty to possessing a controlled substance on Jan. 26, 2011, and her case was to have been dismissed on a deferred entry of judgment. However, Ertman was arrested Aug. 8, and she pleaded guilty Aug. 22 to possession of heroin for sale.

“On Aug. 8, 2012, I sold a small amount of heroin,” wrote Ertman on a court document.

Joshua James Brown, 26, pleaded guilty June 30 to heroin possession and received a deferred entry of judgment if he had no other cases filed against him. He was arrested Aug. 8 with Ertman and pleaded guilty to possession of heroin for sale.

Brown could receive up to four years in prison, but probation could still be granted, according to court records. Ertman faces up to one year in county jail, and could be placed on probation.

Sentencing was set for Sept. 21 in El Cajon Superior Court.

The third person arrested with them, Kyle Joseph Rodriguez, 19, qualified for deferred entry of judgment on Aug. 22 since this was his first drug arrest. Rodriguez remains free on $5,000 bond and his case may be dismissed if he has no future violations.

Brown remains in the George Bailey Detention Facility on $55,000 bail, and Ertman is housed at the Las Colinas Women’s Detention Facility on $27,500 bail.

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