A 34-year-old felon suspected of drug trafficking and being in possession of firearms, fentanyl and a large amount of methamphetamine in Blythe was ordered Tuesday to stand trial on six felony charges.
Ernest Leroy Davis is charged with two counts of possession of controlled substances for sale and one count each of maintaining a location for unlawful sale or use of controlled substances, possession of controlled substances while armed, being a convicted felon and narcotic addict possessing a firearm, and possessing ammunition, according to court records. He also faces sentence-enhancing allegations of being armed during a drug offense and possessing ammunition while out on bail.
He pleaded not guilty to all charges on Oct. 5 at the Larson Justice Center in Indio.
At the end of a preliminary hearing at the Blythe Courthouse on Tuesday, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Russell Moore ruled there was sufficient evidence to warrant a trial on all charges.
A post-preliminary hearing arraignment was set for Dec. 14 at the Larson Justice Center in Indio.
At around 7 a.m. Oct. 3, members of the department’s Detective Bureau, Police Patrol and Dispatch, along with a Critical Incident Team from the state corrections department and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department served a search warrant at a residence in the 300 block of South Springs Street, according to the Blythe Police Department.
Upon entry, they arrested Davis and allegedly found a sawed-off shotgun, two handguns, fentanyl and a large amount of methamphetamine.
“Scales and packaging that indicates drug trafficking was currently taking place at the location were also seized,” police said.
Davis was booked into Blythe Jail, where he was being held on $1 million bail.
Bianca Garnica, 37, was also arrested, but she posted $7,500 bail the same day.
She was charged with two misdemeanor counts, one each of possession of controlled substances and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to court records. She’s scheduled to be arraigned at the Blythe Courthouse on Dec. 8.