Husband of Montebello Mayor Makes Court Appearance in Meth Sales Case

Ruben Guerrero sold meth three times near a Montebello school during an undercover sting operation, prosecutors said

The husband of a Southern California mayor appeared in court Thursday on felony charges of selling methamphetamine near a school, prosecutors said.

Ruben Guerrero, who is married to Montebello Mayor Christina Cortez, was charged with six felony counts after his arrest on Oct. 17 when Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies served warrants at two homes in connection with a narcotics investigation.

Guerrero was set to be arraigned Thursday, but it was postponed until Nov. 25, prosecutors said.

Aerial footage of the day he was arrested showed deputies taking several items from Guerrero's home. He was taken into custody and placed in the back seat of a sheriff's department vehicle.

The complaint alleges that during an undercover sting operation, investigators determined that 44-year-old Guerrero sold meth on three separate occasions from Sept. 26 to Oct. 15 within 1,000 feet of Montebello Intermediate School (map).

At the time of Guerrero's arrest, Cortez said she was "very disappointed and like everyone else, shocked," and urged "everyone to let this investigation take its course."

Inmate records show that Guerrero's bail was set at $60,000, but prosecutors said they will ask that it be doubled.

If convicted on all charges, Guerrero could face up to 11 years in state prison.

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