Drug arrests lead to several guilty pleas, sentences

By Neal Putnam

A Ramona woman has been sentenced to six years in state prison for selling methamphetamine in Ramona and having a prior conviction for possession of meth with intent to distribute.

The sentence for Gina Flechsig, 44, who is also known as Gina Louise Scruggs, is the highest so far among 20 Ramona residents who were arrested during the sheriff’s department’s “Operation High Grade” in September and October.

Most of the cases are still pending in San Diego Superior Court. Three people from La Mesa and Carlsbad were also arrested on charges of selling drugs, mostly methamphetamine, in Ramona.

Besides meth, the sheriff’s department reported seizing five pounds of marijuana, 147 marijuana plants, scales, packaging material for narcotics sales, numerous firearms, and unauthorized Xanax and Ritalin prescription pills.

Flechsig pleaded guilty to selling methamphetamine in a July 18 incident in Ramona and was arrested Sept. 9. San Diego Superior Court Judge Robert O’Neill denied probation and gave her credit for 144 days spent in jail on Nov. 19. She was fined $1,344, court records show.

Marc Everett Mason, 49, was sentenced Dec. 1 by Judge Peter Deddeh to two years in jail with another two years suspended under supervision by the sheriff’s department. Mason pleaded guilty to two counts of selling methamphetamine in Ramona in April and July.

Mason had been free on $75,000 bond, but was remanded into custody on Dec. 1. He was fined $2,314, and given credit for 28 days spent in jail. Probation was denied and his projected release date is Nov. 18, 2015.

Michael Todd Morgart, 47, was sentenced Dec. 1 to one year in jail with two years suspended under supervision by the sheriff’s department. Deddeh gave him credit for serving 93 days in jail since his Oct. 16 arrest.

Morgart pleaded guilty to selling a controlled substance and was fined approximately $1,300. Probation was denied and his projected release date is April 16, 2015.

Donald Lloyd Pettey, 47, was sentenced Dec. 1 to one year in jail and two years suspended under sheriff’s supervision. Pettey pleaded guilty to selling methamphetamine on June 4 in Ramona.

Pettey received credit for serving 93 days in jail and was fined $1,164. Probation was denied and his projected release date is April 16, 2015.

Brian Cruz, 24, was sentenced Dec. 1 by Judge Michael Smyth to 93 days in jail he has already served and was placed on three years probation. Cruz pleaded guilty to selling methamphetamine on June 20 in Ramona.

Cruz was fined $2,234 and ordered to pay probation costs of $1,127. If he is successful on probation after two years, he may be allowed to withdraw his guilty plea, according to court records. Smyth ordered him to pay the fines and probation costs at a rate of at least $50 per month.

Larry Julio, 44, pleaded guilty to selling methamphetamine and won a delay in sentencing until Dec. 29. Court records say Julio is facing 18 months in jail with another 18 months of supervision. He remains in jail.

Meagan Gold Barrett, 46, pleaded guilty to selling methamphetamine on Jan. 27 and transporting the drug on July 31 in Ramona. Barrett will be sentenced later this month and faces one year in jail and two years on sheriff supervision.