Bend grocery owner’s trial on drug charges delayed

A new defense attorney means a five-month delay in the trial of a Bend grocery store owner arrested early last year, accused of selling methamphetamine from his store.

A judge on Monday granted a delay until Jan. 18 for Antonio Rico-Sanchez, 51, who was arrested in February 2015 and later indicted on 23 counts of delivery of methamphetamine and one count each of delivery of cocaine, felon in possession of a firearm and unlawfully obtaining food stamp benefits.

Police said Rico-Sanchez, the owner of Rico’s Groceries and Rico’s Tacos, was selling meth out of his Third Street storefront, including trafficking in SNAP (food assistance) cards.

Rico-Sanchez pleaded not guilty to the charges in late January and his trial had been scheduled for July 12.