Bend store, food cart owner in court on drug charges

Antonio Rico-Sanchez, found guilty of running a drug ring in 2011, was arrested in February on charges of methamphetamine at his Bend grocery store.

Rico-Sanchez owns Rico’s Groceries and Rico’s Tacos, a popular food cart in Bend.

He appeared in court by video hookup from the jail for a motion hearing Wednesday.

Rico-Sanchez was arrested a month after the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team said it recorded two undercover buys of meth at Rico’s Groceries.

Deschutes County Circuit Judge Beth Bagley signed a warrant for his arrest on Feb. 23. His bail was set at $100,000.

He posted bail and was released on Feb. 25. Days later, he was arrested in Jefferson County for a parole violation.

Initially, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office objected to transporting Rico-Sanchez to his out-of-county appearances.

Now he’s in the Deschutes County Jail, where he will remain until the matter is resolved following a decision by Judge Stephen Forte on Wednesday.

In September 2012, Rico-Sanchez was convicted of delivering meth after detectives recovered $40,000 worth of the drug from his grocery store.

He’s scheduled to enter pleas to the new charges on April 15th.