SIX CHARGED WITH SELLING CRACK COCAINE; MORE ARRESTS EXPECTED

 

Six Lapwai residents were arrested late last week and have been arraigned on a federal indictment that alleges they sold crack cocaine.

The six were taken into custody late Wednesday evening and early Thursday morning by the FBI, the Nez Perce Tribal Police, the Idaho State Police and the Quad City Drug Task Force. They are Rafael Ojeda, 31, of Clarkston and Lapwai, and Jesse Curry, 26, James Spencer, Jr., 36, Leslie McConnville, 49, Julian Bronson, 23, and Sade Bybee, 21, all of Lapwai. Investigators said more arrests are likely.

The six appeared in federal court on Friday and entered not guilty pleas. Trial for Ojeda, Curry, Spencer and McConnville was set for October 23 before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge. Trial for Bronson and Bybee was set for October 29 before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill.

An indictment is a means of charging a person with criminal activity. It is not evidence. The person is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.