Man denies drug charges in Lincolnshire traffic stop
A Schaumburg man pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges he was carrying methamphetamine while a passenger in a stolen car.
Darwin Saso, 32, of the 2800 block of Meadow Lane, faces up to five years in prison if convicted of possession of methamphetamine in Lake County circuit court.
Assistant State’s Attorney Scott Hoffert said Saso was arrested Sept. 16 when he was a passenger in a 2004 Chevrolet driven by Danny Alvarez, 40, of the 700 block of Sienna Drive in Round Lake. Around 12:30 a.m., Lincolnshire police said, Alvarez made a right turn on red at an intersection where those turns are prohibited.
A patrol officer who saw the turn ran a computer check on the car’s license number, Hoffert said, and learned it was reported stolen in Chicago on Sept. 10.
Both Saso and Alvarez were ordered out of the car once it had been stopped by police, Hoffert said, and police found bags containing two grams of methamphetamine on each man.
Alvarez pleaded not guilty to possession of a stolen car and possession of methamphetamine on Dec. 8, and is scheduled to appear in court Jan. 31.
Circuit Judge Fred Foreman scheduled a trial of the case against Saso for Feb. 21, and ordered him to appear in court Feb. 8.