By RYAN LANCASTER
Staff Reporter
A 2009 drug case involving Medical Lake resident Joseph Richard Deanda has seen multiple continuances, with a trial date now set for Oct. 4.
This is one of more than 10 continuances granted so far, according to prosecutor Stephanie Collins who is handling the case with the Spokane County Prosecutors Office.
Collins said Deanda, 48, could face more than 10 years in prison if convicted on felony counts of possession of controlled substances with intent to deliver.
On July 2, 2009, Spokane County Sheriff's Office drug detectives raided two separate residences in Medical Lake, both belonging to Deanda.
The first warrant was executed at 104 W. Sixth, where Deanda was arrested after a quarter-pound of marijuana and nearly a half-pound of cocaine was discovered along with a small amount of heroin. A car at the home contained $3,000 in cash and another quarter-pound of marijuana, which was packaged for sale. Cocaine and marijuana was also found on Deanda's person.
Collins said the court granted her amendment to add enhancements to the charges because the offenses took place within a school bus zone and a school zone. This could add 80 months onto a possible sentence range of 60 to 120 months. “If he has a prior drug conviction, which it looks like he does, the court could double it, meaning he could get 20 years,” Collins said.
Collins said the trial could take a week or more due to the number of witnesses involved in the case.
Ryan Lancaster can be reached at [email protected].
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