Marijuana trafficker sentenced to 7 years

1/24/2004

BOWLING GREEN — A Wood County man was sentenced yesterday to seven years in prison for trafficking in marijuana.

Israel Flores, 48, of Bradner was convicted of the charge Thursday in Wood County Common Pleas Court. In sentencing Flores, Judge Alan Mayberry followed a recommendation by Gwen Howe-Gebers, an assistant county prosecutor.

Flores was arrested in August, 2003, by Wood County sheriff's deputies and federal drug agents after officers found more than 22 pounds of marijuana, scales, and packaging materials while executing a search warrant at his residence. Flores was also charged with having three children — ages 15 months, 23 months, and 7 years — in the area while packaging the marijuana.

Flores, who could have received a maximum of eight years on the trafficking charge, still faces a related charge of intimidation, county Prosecutor Raymond Fischer said.