By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

Alonzo Joseph Villarreal

WARSAW — A Warsaw man received a three-year local sentence after a drug deal with an undercover officer.

Alonzo Joseph Villarreal, 22, 1523 E. Jefferson St., Warsaw, was charged with dealing in cocaine or a narcotic drug, a level 5 felony.

Villarreal was sentenced in Kosciusko Circuit Court on Tuesday, Aug. 31.

Sometime in October 2020, the NET43 Drug Task Force made a controlled purchase of 1.5 grams of cocaine from Villarreal.

During court proceedings, Defense Attorney John Barrett said Villarreal would respond well to a local sentence versus prison time.

“Alonzo is at a point where he gets it and I hope he learns from his bad decision,” said Barrett.

“I’m fully aware of the caliber of my bad decision,” said Villarreal. “I do want to be a productive member of society and want to show everyone that I can take responsibility for my actions.”

For dealing cocaine, Kosciusko Circuit Court Judge Michael Reed sentenced Villarreal to three years in the Kosciusko County Jail. One year of the sentence was suspended on probation. This case will also be served consecutively to a misdemeanor matter.

Villarreal can serve the executed sentence through the county’s work release or community corrections programs. He must also pay $240 in restitution to NET43.