A San Jose man is arrested Thursday night for allegedly selling drugs laced with fentanyl to high school students. According to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, Simon Armendariz, 23, sold drugs to 15-year-old students of Los Gatos High School.
Armendariz made his first court appearance on Thursday.
Santa Clara Police say the investigation began when a 15-year-old girl overdosed in the Los Gatos High School bathroom in a narcotics meeting.
The pill was a counterfeit Percocet laced with fentanyl, a deadly drug. Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Eunice Lee said further investigation led to Armendariz.
“There were four victims that were minors at the time. We believe that the evidence will show that defendant Armendariz was selling and furnishing drugs through various areas of downtown Los Gatos including the high school and a church,” Lee said.
According to the DA’s office, Armendariz went by the names of Risky and Madman to sell drugs. He would meet his buyers in locations around downtown Los Gastos, including the Los Gatos High’s parking lot and a nearby church.
Armendariz pleads not guilty on Thursday to the drug charges on him. A judge denied bail, citing previous criminal charges, including assault with a semi-automatic weapon.
“I don’t think that there is any monetary figure that can ensure the release of the defendant to satisfactorily protect the public and the victims that are involved in this case,” Lee said.
The DA’s office claims that Armendariz’s student clientele was aware of the risks and carried Narcan with them in case of an overdose.
Investigators say that the alleged drug dealer would deliver the $10 pills to Los Gatos High School, selling to one particular student before the first period.
“This isn’t a war on drugs this is a struggle to save lives. Minors were targeted here as well as victims who can be killed with one use of fentanyl,” Lee said.
A preliminary hearing for Armendariz is scheduled for Jan. 6 at 8:30 a.m. in Department 35 of the San Jose courthouse. The judge on Thursday set no bail.
