Austin man on trial for drugs, threats, assault

Published 3:19 pm Saturday, July 7, 2012

An Austin man pleaded not guilty in Mower County court Thursday to selling drugs to an informant three times last winter.

Michael Phillip Chavez, 29, pleaded not guilty to first-degree drug sale of more than 10 grams of methamphetamine and three counts of second-degree drug sale of more than three grams of meth, all felonies.

Police met with an informant and gave him a recorder and money on Jan. 18, Feb. 7, and Feb. 22, and each time the informant allegedly purchased an “eight ball” of meth from Chavez. All told, the informant bought a total of 10.2 grams of meth from Chavez, according to the court complaint. Chavez also has a felony drug conviction in California from 2006. He is also on trial for felony terroristic threats and domestic assault from an incident on June 23 in Mower County. He has pleaded not guilty to those charges.

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Chavez’s next court appearance is set for Sept. 21.