Advertise:   ads@blueearthmarketing.com   712.224.5420

Law
Pechanga man convicted for meth-fueled crash


Joseph Anthony Barrientos, a member of the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians, was convicted of two counts of second-degree murder for a hit-and-run crash fueled by methamphetamine.

Barrientos, 27, hit and killed a 9-year-old boy and his grandmother on July 23. He fled the scene and led police on a chase when officers caught up to him.

Barrientos admitted he was high on meth at the time. He later testified that he ingested more meth when he was being chased.

Sentencing is set for January 5. He faces maximum sentence of 46 years to life.

Get the Story:
Driver guilty in fatal crash (The Riverside Press-Enterprise 11/10)
pwpwd

Related Stories:
Pechanga man describes meth-fueled police chase (11/7)
Pechanga man on trial for meth-related crime (10/27)
Man admits to selling meth at Northern Cheyenne (10/20)
Mistrial sought in Pine Ridge trafficking case (10/19)
Jury finds five guilty in Pine Ridge trafficking case (10/5)
Pine Ridge drug trafficking case sent to jury (10/4)
Five on trial for trafficking cocaine to Pine Ridge (09/20)
Conference to present models for meth treatment (9/18)
Crow chairman testifies at Senate hearing on meth (9/13)
Elders hear dangers of meth at Oklahoma conference (9/7)
Indian mothers who use meth part of birth weight study (9/6)
Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation treats drug abuse (8/23)
Tribes nationwide affected by methamphetamine (8/21)
Dozens arrested in methamphetamine bust (8/17)
Salt River, U.S. Attorney to announce meth probe (8/16)
Northern Cheyenne Tribe holds anti-meth rally (8/11)
Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe fights substance abuse (08/02)
Methamphetamine on the rise among Alaska Natives (07/25)
Navajo Nation police make big drug busts with K-9 help (07/10)
Woman admits distributing meth from tribal housing (7/6)
Navajo Nation cracks down on methamphetamine (6/30)
Fort Mojave Tribe holds first rally against drugs (06/26)
Methamphetamine at crisis level in Indian Country (06/12)
Former tribal judge sentenced for meth, drug ring (6/9)
Wyoming governor addresses meth at Wind River (6/1)
Gila River women speak out against meth use (5/29)
Methamphetamine ring leads to charges against 53 (5/26)
Editorial: Northern Cheyenne Tribe fights meth (5/23)
Domenici seeks special federal judge for meth cases (5/18)
Northern Cheyenne Tribe rallies against meth use (05/15)
Pine Ridge meth task force proposes tougher laws (5/9)
Rincon man convicted for meth-related murders (5/5)
Pine Ridge concert promoters tout 'Death to Meth' (5/2)
Northern Cheyenne Tribe declares war on meth (4/28)
Tribes excluded from new anti-meth grant program (4/26)
Man sentenced for dealing drugs on reservation (4/25)
Methamphetamine infects Flathead Reservation (4/21)
Turtle Mountain Band taking stance against drugs (4/21)
Crow Reservation woman sentenced for meth (4/21)
Meth called modern-day enemy to Navajo Nation (4/20)
Murder charge laid for meth lab blast on tribal land (4/20)
Voice of America: Meth a crisis in Indian Country (4/12)
On the Hill: Methamphetamine crisis on reservations (4/11)
Navajo senior citizens worried about methamphetamine (4/7)
Senate committee told of meth crisis in Indian Country (4/6)
Witness list for Senate hearing on methamphetamine (4/5)
Navajo Nation faces big threat in methamphetamine (4/5)
Senate Indian Affairs Committee meth hearing (4/3)
Methamphetamine crisis in Indian Country (3/31)
Attorney General Gonzales visits Yakama Nation (3/30)
Grandma, mom, daughter arrested for meth (3/30)
Border tribes face threats from migrants, drug trade (03/21)
Meth use tied to child abuse in Indian Country (3/16)
Lance Morgan: Indian Country now has the 'Meth Diet' (3/13)
Tribes face new danger in methamphetamine (3/7)
Update from NCAI winter session in Washington (02/28)
NCAI meets in Washington for winter session (02/27)
Drug trafficking ring busted on Pine Ridge Reservation (02/24)
Editorial: Canada to blame for reservation drugs (2/23)
Jourdain blasts comments in NYT story on drugs (2/21)
NY Times: Drug trafficking in Indian Country (2/20)
Tom Heffelfinger to step down as U.S. Attorney (02/15)
Garcia turns to Four Directions to guide Indian Country (02/03)
Tribal judge expected to enter plea in drug case (01/31)
St. Croix Band hears dangers of methamphetamine (01/19)
Chippewa Cree Tribe launches anti-meth campaign (01/12)
Tribe's public defender held on meth charges (01/04)
Tribe's public defender charged in meth conspiracy (12/21)
Lummi Nation burns house that was used to sell drugs (12/02)
Opinion: Tribes, state to combat meth problem (11/28)
Washoe Tribe joins fight against meth (11/01)
Crow Chairman: 'We have a meth epidemic' (10/26)
Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe hosts meth summit (10/07)
NAIHC expands program to deal with meth problem (09/29)
U.S. claims 400 meth arrests in 'Operation Wildfire' (08/31)
Washoe Tribe says meth invading communities (08/18)
Methamphetamine called a big problem for tribes (8/11)
Navajo Nation counts 32 active gangs, 500 members (08/05)
Reservation meth dealer given life prison sentence (07/08)
Nevada tribe concerned about methamphetamine use (06/22)
Plan seeks to combat meth problem in Montana (03/22)
Navajo police find methamphetamine in car (03/04)
Meth use a serious problem among Native youth (02/25)
Officials praise Navajo methamphetamine law (2/21)
Navajo Nation Council passes methamphetamine law (02/14)
Methamphetamine use explodes on reservation (2/7)
Idaho tribe to sign law enforcement agreement (02/03)
Navajo Nation peyote, meth legislation on hold (11/11)
Reservations called breeding ground for meth (11/08)
Navajo community worried about meth trafficking (10/20)
Film to expose dangers of meth on Navajo Nation (06/17)
Task force cracks drug rings in Indian Country (06/07)
Authorities bust drug ring on Oklahoma tribal land (05/06)
Calif. tribe, local police break up drug ring (01/29)
Tribe turns to banishment to battle drugs (1/19)