A young woman who was removed from drug court for multiple violations was in district court Tuesday, March 27 to face charges of probation violation. Rikki Lee Sanchez was convicted in 2016 of child abuse, neglect or endangerment, a gross misdemeanor. She was sentenced to 364 days in jail. The sentence was suspended and Sanchez was placed on probation with conditions. One of which required her to successfully complete Drug Court.
Sanchez had some success in her over two years in Drug Court but was also jailed several times, serving a total of 20 days in jail, for Drug Court violations. Her public defender, Matt Stermitz, said that in those two years, Sanchez had made substantial effort to comply.
“She took hundreds of drug tests and was in court every Monday,” Stermitz said. “I would like to think Ms. Sanchez’s plight was better because of her participation in Drug Court."
Stermitz indicated that the drug court team was at wits' end with Sanchez and offered her the choice to go to a residential treatment program. She declined. Sanchez told the judge she had talked to her family about such a program but she really believed she could do it on her own.
Sanchez confirmed she was better off for having participated in Drug Court. “Without Drug Court and the fellowship of AA, I don’t know where I would be right now, nor do I wish to imagine,” she said.
While she was in the program Sanchez said she attained a year of sobriety, something she said “seemed impossible at first.” During that year, she told the judge she maintained employment, bought herself a car and “mended relationships that mean everything” to her. She said she plans to continue her sobriety.
“I see all the wasted potential and I don’t want to waste any more of my life,” she told the judge.
In pronouncing judgement, Montero said how difficult these kinds of cases are for him. He acknowledged the lengthy time Sanchez participated in Drug Court, and the many obstacles that ultimately led to her being released from the program.
“I’m glad for what you’ve said - that the program has helped you with a foundation,” Montero said. “I hope that is real and long-lasting for you.”
However, he said there had to be a balance that took into account the terms and conditions of probation and punishment for failure to comply with them. He pointed out that Sanchez has served over half of her three year term of probation in Drug Court, but unsuccessfully.
He then made what he termed a compromise ruling, noting her original conviction was on a gross misdemeanor charge and she has already served 54 days in the county jail. He modified her judgement of conviction to four months in jail, adding that she has already served almost two of them. He said she will finish serving the balance and then will be “off paper” and no longer the responsibility of the Department of Parole and Probation.
Sanchez will still have to pay the fines and fees she owes including $235 to Drug Court, a $250 public defender fee, a $3 DNA collection fee, $25 administrative assessment and $1,500 in probation supervision fees. She will be required to sign a civil confession of judgement for those fees before she is released from jail.
