A convicted felon accused of dealing methamphetamine in Eastvale was charged Wednesday with possession of drugs for sale and other offenses.
Willie Abarca Jr., 43, was arrested Friday following a traffic stop that led to the alleged seizure of contraband from his vehicle.
Along with the possession count, Abarca is charged with sentence-enhancing allegations of being a felon in possession of a controlled substance and committing a felony offense within five years of parole from state prison.
He pleaded not guilty during an arraignment before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Steven Counelis, who scheduled a felony settlement conference for June 22 at the Riverside Hall of Justice.
Abarca is being held in lieu of $130,000 bail at the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta.
According to Riverside County Sheriff’s Sgt. Frank Lodes, at about 10 p.m. Friday, a patrol deputy spotted Abarca cruising the 6000 block of Hamner Avenue and stopped the ex-con to conduct a vehicle check based on suspicions he might be involved in gang activity.
During a search of the defendant’s vehicle, deputies found two ounces of meth, as well as various drug paraphernalia, Lodes said.
Abarca was taken into custody without a struggle.
According to court records, he has prior convictions for receiving stolen property, theft and being under the influence of a controlled substance.