REGION II DIRECTOR SPEAKS OUT AT DRUG DEALER'S SENTENCING

Says We Are 'Far Beyond' Meth Epidemic, Urges Maximum Sentence

AZTEC -- In a rare court appearance Monday, State Police Region II
Narcotics Director Ken Christensen urged a state judge to send a
message to area drug pushers by sentencing a Bloomfield man to prison
for the maximum allowed exposure.

Christensen told District Court Judge Thomas Hynes that Adam Campos,
29, of Bloomfield, was not a mere dealer selling drugs to maintain
his own drug habit, but an individual who didn't care about the
safety of his community.

Christensen said he wanted Hynes to sentence Campos "to the fullest
extent of the law" as a message to others in the Four Corners area
that they will be prosecuted.

"We will not accept the (drug) culture. We are far beyond an epidemic
of methamphetamine," Christensen said. "I would really like to see
something done with Mr. Campos."

Campos was sentenced to four years in prison on various possession
and distribution charges stemming from four separate court cases.
Campos will be eligible for parole in two years.

"We see a lot of distribution cases and it's rare for us to bring in
the director of Region II," Assistant District Attorney David Ottman
told Hynes. "Adam Campos is not just a junky. He is the problem. This
is well beyond someone selling to support their habit."

Ottman said Campos provides drugs to the community and was the topic
of a meeting about the impact of drugs in the region.

Campos was arrested in August along with William Varela, 28, of
Bloomfield, after Region II Narcotics Task Force agents executed a
search warrant on Campos' home.

According to state police, Region II agents confiscated more than one
ounce of meth, a half-gram of suspected cocaine and about 4.7 grams
of "green leafy substance."

Court documents state that Bloomfield Police Chief Drew Standley
contacted Region II agents because of complaints from local residents
over suspected drug activity and increased traffic at Campos' home.

"Over the past year or so, we have been chasing Campos because of
dozens of complaints from Bloomfield," Christensen said.

Nine days after Standley contacted Region II, Campos and Varela were
arrested following a traffic stop. Campos was cited for not having a
license or proper registration on the vehicle.

A search of the vehicle revealed "two rock-like items" in a vial
under the front driver's seat, which police claim tested positive for
methamphetamine. A sawed-off shot gun also was found, in the trunk of the car.

Campos attorney Ron Adamson said the state Probation and Parole
Department recommended Campos be released on probation. However,
Hynes disagreed.

"(Campos) is telling them he has an addiction problem. He's asking
for help. He knows he can't stop on his own," Adamson said.

Campos said he moved to Bloomfield with his family, seeking work.
Following his divorce, Campos said he lost his family, slipped deep
into drugs and then "down-spiraled."

"I came here and got into a lot of trouble because I didn't seek the
help," Campos said.

Hynes agreed that Campos played an active role in moving illegal
drugs in the county and urged him to seek drug treatment in prison.

"If you are truly a drug addict, you will get your treatment in
prison. You'll get to prove yourself when you get out," the judge said.