Following arrest in June, couple is granted third
continuation
By Jessica Thy Nguyen Special to the Dispatch
Gilroy – A former softball coach and his wife again delayed entering pleas at the San Martin County Courthouse Tuesday. Arrested in June, Lino Anthony De La Cruz and his wife Sonya Zuniga De La Cruz were granted a third continuation by Commissioner Deborah Ryan.
United Narcotics Enforcement Team agents arrested the 39-year-old and his wife, Sonya, in June, after receiving complaints that the couple were selling marijuana and methamphetamine out of a Comfort Inn hotel room in Gilroy.
As of the couple’s last hearing Aug. 1, Sonya was assigned a public defendant per request, and Lino requested that he be given extra time to hire a private attorney for himself.
The couple appeared more than half an hour late to court Tuesday and waited until the end of court proceedings to say that Lino had still not acquired an attorney for himself.
De La Cruz, dressed in a gray suit, mentioned financial difficulties and because of his inability to hire a private attorney, requested a public defender. The court appointed a public defender for Lino De La Cruz different from his wife’s defender and the continuation was given in order for the couple to discuss the case with their attorneys.
The defendants are expected to enter pleas at their next court hearing, scheduled for 9am, Sept. 15.
