Clovis man gets 24 years on drug charges

CLOVIS — A Clovis man labeled as a "career criminal" by local prosecutors Wednesday received 24 years in prison from a Friday conviction on trying to give drugs to an incarcerated girlfriend.

Bernardo Baca, 42, will serve his sentence concurrent with an existing 11-year sentence for two prior drug convictions, following a sentencing decision from Judge Matt Chandler.

"I'm never a believer, necessarily, in concurrent sentences," said District Attorney Andrea Reeb. "We were hoping for the maximum sentence, but I'm happy that he's going to serve additional time...(Baca) has an extensive record. He's been a career criminal since I've been a prosecutor."

A jury deliberated for an hour last week before finding Baca guilty of three felony charges - trafficking controlled substances, distribution of marijuana and tampering with evidence‚ as well as misdemeanor resisting arrest.

The charges originated in early May 2016, when a package containing methamphetamines and marijuana was found in an alley of Clovis. Those drugs were discovered to have been placed by Baca in the Curry County Adult Detention Center for his girlfriend there, according to a press release from Reeb's office.

Baca's sentencing amounts to about 13 additional years in prison after completing his previous 11-year sentence.

"We respect the judge's decision," said Reeb. "Bernardo Baca is a person that is constantly involved in crime. In fact, I think he was shot twice and never cooperated even as a victim ... He's just uncooperative in general."

Jonathan Miller, Baca's defense attorney from Albuquerque, said Baca "looks forward to his appeal."