Probation given in drug case

Armando Rodriguez, Jr., was placed on probation for six years and ordered to complete inpatient rehabilitation at a court residential treatment center following his plea of guilty to possession of a controlled substance. The sentence was handed down by District Judge Dan Mike Bird during recent proceedings of the 46th Judicial District Court in Vernon.
On May 29, 2021, a Vernon police officer observed Rodriguez commit a traffic violation which resulted in a traffic stop. During the course of the stop, the officer noticed a strong smell of marijuana coming from Rodriguez who admitted that he had recently been smoking. The officer asked Rodriguez if he had any marijuana in his possession and he responded that he had a “roach” which he voluntarily placed on the hood of the patrol car. A subsequent search of Rodriguez’s person revealed a pill bottle which contained a small baggie containing more than one gram of methamphetamine. In addition to the probation and rehabilitation, Rodriguez was ordered to pay a fine of $2,500 and complete 250 hours of community service.
Rodriguez was represented by Angela Baskerville of Vernon.