One of two men accused of transporting 200 pounds of methamphetamine intended for sale in Redwood City failed to appear in court Wednesday after being released in early September on their own recognizance, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.
Rigoberto Mundaca, 41, of Tracy, failed to appear in court Wednesday. District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said the news wasn’t shocking.
“This is no surprise to us, he has a lot of reasons to run,” Wagstaffe said.
Both Mundaca and Jaycee Sandovalpalacios, 27, of Earlimart, Tulare County, are being charged with felony transport for the sale of meth with weight enhancements for more than 20 kilos and conspiracy. Both men are facing 24 years in prison.
Sandovalpalacios appeared in court Wednesday, Oct. 18, and Judge Michael Wendler placed Sandovalpalacios in custody on no bail status.
Mundaca and Sandovalpalacios were allegedly meeting a third individual at the Marsh Manor Strip Mall near the border of Redwood City and Menlo Park. Redwood City police learned through law enforcement channels that a large transaction of meth would occur at the strip mall, and the vehicles noted were a PT Cruiser and Toyota Camry. Police identified the two cars parked in the shopping mall and allegedly located 200 pounds of meth inside the Camry.
Assistant District Attorney Shin-Mee Chang said the estimated wholesale value of the drugs is around $250,000. Chang said the DA’s Office requested bail be set. However, the court released both men on their own recognizance.
Mundaca allegedly told police somebody from Mexico called him to meet with Sandovalpalacios in Redwood City, and the person who asked for the favor said they would help Mundaca with medical service for a sick family member, according to the DA’s Office.
Sandovalpalacios allegedly told police he agreed to drive for a friend who placed a few boxes in his car. Sandovalpalacios allegedly said he didn’t know what was in the boxes but had a gut feeling. He was then directed to drive north to meet with Mundaca outside the county and he said Mundaca told him they needed to go to Redwood City.
Sandovalpalacios returns to court Friday, Oct. 20, for a bail motion.
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LittleFoot said:
Why not just post your own comment saying that, Rajiv?
Dirk van Ulden said:
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(1) comment
Now what were the odds on this guy showing up in court? Meanwhile, your justice system at work. With folks riding bikes and brandishing weapons to drug traffickers, anything goes. Let’s hope law enforcement doesn’t become more jaded and begin not bothering with apprehending alleged perpetrators. Similar to reports out of San Francisco. Count on more lawlessness coming to the suburbs of San Mateo. The question is whether perpetrators need to have made a rep for themselves – you know, so they can be released on your own recognizance. BTW, can defense attorneys “shop” for bail judges?
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