Lake in the Hills man jailed for coke possession

A Lake in the Hills man was sentenced to 60 days in jail and two years on probation Tuesday after pleading guilty to possession of cocaine.

Gilberto Bautista, 29, was also fined $2,000 and ordered to complete a drug-treatment program.

Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Matthew Demartini said Bautista was among several people at a residence in the 1700 block of Victoria Avenue in North Chicago on the evening of June 17. Police armed with a search warrant entered the house and found Bautista had about one ounce of cocaine in his pocket.

Bautista told Associate Judge George Bridges he intended to use some of the cocaine himself, and planned to sell some of it to another person for $740.

Demartini agreed to allow Bautista to reduce the charge of possession of cocaine with the intent to deliver in exchange for Bautista's plea.

Had be been convicted of the original charge against him, Bautista would have faced a mandatory prison sentence of six to 30 years.

Bridges told Bautista he must surrender to serve the jail sentence on Jan. 4, 2010.