Two arrested in Hampshire drug bust

Two Hampshire men with a history of sexual misconduct have been arrested on a series of drug charges.

At 6 p.m. Thursday, the Kane County Sheriff's Office Special Operations Unit, with members of the investigative division, executed a search warrant in the 800 block of Elizabeth Lane and found more than 200 grams of marijuana, as well as several drug pipes, and arrested the two men inside of the house.

Jose I. Gomez, 44, was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, unlawful possession of marijuana and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

The marijuana has a street value ranging between $7,000 and $10,000.

Gomez is also listed as a registered child sex offender for having sex with someone who was 16 (he was 29 at the time), according to the Illinois Sex Offender Web site.

He was also wanted on an outstanding warrant for domestic battery.

As well, Ralph Malacara, 33, was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and obstructing justice.

He is also wanted on several Kane County warrants issued in 2009 for predatory criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault, criminal sexual assault and nine counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

Malacara had outstanding warrants for domestic battery and resisting a peace officer.

Their arrests came at the culmination of a two-month investigation that stemmed from a tip that someone was selling drugs from the Elizabeth Lane house, said Lt. Pat Gengler.

Gomez's bond was set Friday morning at $303,000 and Malacara's was set at $261,000.

Both remained in custody at the Kane County jail, as they were unable to post bond.

If found guilty of predatory criminal sexual assault, Malacara could spend between six and 30 years in prison.

Likewise, if Gomez is convicted of the delivery charge, he faces between five and 10 years in prison, because he already has been found guilty of a felony.