Daren Briones was given a jail sentence and a gross misdemeanor conviction rather than a felony charge with prison time
In a July hearing, Briones pleaded not guilty to two counts of possession of a controlled substance, a category E felony. At an August status hearing, Briones changed his plea and entered a no contest plea to an amended gross misdemeanor charge of conspiracy to possess a controlled substance.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, both sides of legal counsel recommended a 364 day jail sentence. In his allocution statement, Briones, who has been in drug court twice before, asked the court to allow him to go through the drug court program again to work through his ongoing substance addiction.
“One of the only times I’ve succeeded in my adult life was when I was on a short leash on the drug court program and the time that I stayed sober the longest. I have been given a little slack and relapsed before and I end up back here,” said Briones. “It would be foolish for me to not ask for some sort of deferment or supervision of some kind to stay in a positive environment and continue to combat my addiction that I’m going to have to live with for my entire life.”
Judge Michael Montero offered Briones some perspective on the charges and sentence he was facing.
“Today it looks like you’re getting a pretty good deal, you were at risk for becoming a repeat felon and the attorneys have worked out a way to keep you out of prison for a long time,” said Montero. “With 100 days credit for time served, the time left in county jail is minimal. I would hope that on your release, you will seek out and take some initiative to pursue what you’re telling me you want.”
With 100 days credit for time served, Briones was sent to carry out the remainder of the 364 day jail sentence, in addition to assessed fees of $25 administrative assessment, $3 DNA collection, $60 forensic and $250 public defender.
