Ex-San Jacinto City Councilman Pleads Guilty In 2 Criminal Cases

SAN JACINTO, CA — Former San Jacinto City Councilman Joel Lopez Deanda pleaded guilty Wednesday to operating an illegal cannabis shop in the city and to domestic violence charges. The crimes were committed while Lopez Deanda, 36, was serving on the council.

Lopez Deanda admitted charges of conspiracy and maintaining an unlawful marijuana facility — both felonies — as well as selling cannabis without a permit and failure to file a sales and use tax return with the state, which are misdemeanors.

The plea was during a status hearing at the Banning Justice Center and was made directly to Riverside County Superior Court Judge Timothy Hollenhorst.

Not one of the charges for which Lopez Deanda was indicted was dismissed. He was immediately sentenced to one year in jail and five years probation.

In a separate case that led to his Aug. 5 arrest while free on $100,000 bail, Lopez Deanda also pleaded guilty Wednesday to inflicting corporal injury on a spouse/co-inhabitant, criminal death/great bodily injury threats, and assault with a deadly weapon (non-firearm) to cause great bodily injury — all felonies. He also pleaded guilty to misdemeanor inflicting corporal injury on a spouse/co-inhabitant. He was sentenced concurrently.

The domestic violence incidents took place July 31 in Los Angeles, and on Aug. 5 in San Jacinto, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department. Further information about the abuse was unavailable.

While serving on the San Jacinto City Council in 2019, Lopez Deanda and a co-defendant, 33-year-old Edward Padilla of San Jacinto, came under investigation after evidence surfaced that they had been operating a cannabis shop, alternately called "Santa Fe Co-Op," "Santa Fe Collective," and "Santa Fe."

The pair also hired others to help run the illicit dispensary, located at 1190 S. San Jacinto Ave., according to prosecutors.

The indictment stated that the men "placed cannabis or THC products for sale in display cases," and that they "sold cannabis or THC products ... to members of the public."

A mobile delivery service was also utilized.

The amount of money collected from the operation was not specified. It was also unclear exactly when the illicit business was shut down.

Lopez Deanda was arrested on June 10 in connection with the drug investigation but posted $100,000 bail the same day and was released. Padilla was taken into custody a few days later and also posted bond.

Padilla admitted a conspiracy charge, and three remaining counts under his indictment were dismissed as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors. Padilla, who had no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County, was sentenced to two years probation.

Lopez Deanda had no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.

Lopez Deanda was elected to his first term on the San Jacinto City Council in November 2018.

In October, his four colleagues on the council voted to remove him from his seat for lack of participation in a 90-day period. He was replaced by Councilman Michael Heath.

—City News Service contributed to this report.