Probation for one of two charged in marijuana bust
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A 27-year-old woman who was originally charged with felony marijuana possession after authorities raided a home in South Elgin and found 3.5 pounds of pot, along with $44,000, has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and was sentenced to two years probation, according to court records.
Aline Hernandez, of the 800 block of James Street, South Elgin, initially faced up to seven years in prison before pleading guilty to a lesser charge.
She also must pay a $2,165 fine and complete 50 hours of community service under the plea agreement accepted July 13 by Kane County Judge Clint Hull, records show.
Other than traffic tickets, Hernandez did not have a criminal record in Kane County. Joshua Dieden, who is Hernandez' defense attorney, did not return a phone message seeking comment.
A co-defendant in the case, Fred Moreno Jr., who used to live in South Elgin but not lives in the 500 block of Brook Street, Elgin, also faces up to seven years in prison if convicted of the most serious charge.
Moreno is due in court Aug. 17, and court records show his defense attorney, Vincent Solano, has had discussions with prosecutors and Hull about a possible plea agreement.
But Solano, who did not return a call seeking comment, also has filed a motion seeking to suppress evidence seized in the May 2011 raid. The motion argues that authorities improperly sifted through Moreno's trash in an effort to secure a search warrant.
Moreno does not have any felony convictions in Kane County, but records show he was arrested in June 1997 and June 2000 in Elgin for possession of minor amounts of marijuana. The charges were dropped in both cases. He also was cited for consumption of alcohol by a minor in October 1999 in Elgin as well, records show.
