A Linfield College Public Safety officer, who was arrested Oct. 24, 2011 for unlawful drug possession and was later convicted for possession of heroin during trial, violated his probation set on Feb. 15, 2012.

Aaron Lopez, 31, had been an inactive CPS officer since mid-September 2011 when he was arrested on multiple drug charges as a result of an ongoing investigation by the Yamhill County Interagency Narcotics Team.

Lopez pled guilty to count five, possession of heroin, a Class B felony, during his trial on Dec. 28, 2011. As a result, he was sentenced to 10 days in jail and 18 months of supervised probation.

Lopez’s count six, unlawful possession of methamphetamine was dismissed.

According to court documents, Deputy Twitchell of the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office called in the incident regarding Lopez’s probation violation.

Court documents show that Lopez passed out in a friend’s bathroom on Feb. 15. He later admitted on Feb. 24 that he relapsed on Percocet. He said that the prescription was a valid prescription for him, and it was prescribed more than a year ago. However, Lopez said he did not take it as prescribed, as he took four pills at one time. He said the reason he abused the drug was because of the loss of a childhood friend to suicide, in addition to some health issues.

As a result of the probation violation, Lopez waived his right to a hearing in favor of sanctioned recovery support group meetings, three times a week.

Prior to his probation violation and trial, Lopez violated the terms of his Security Release Agreement. Upon Lopez’s conditional custody release, he was required to stay at Thugz Off Drugs.

According to a report from Michael Crites, house manager, Lopez violated curfew and left before taking a urine test.

A warrant was issued for his arrest on Dec. 5, 2011, and he was arrested again Dec. 10. He remained in custody until his trial.

Lopez, who was an officer and dispatcher, had been on CPS staff since August 2010. Previously, he held a job with the Spirit Mountain Casino Security Department in Grand Ronde, Ore., for four years.

He is First Responder certified and was Oregon State Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) certified.

DPSST was notified, leading to Lopez’s suspension.

Lopez’s girlfriend, Angela Shelburne, 23, was charged with unlawful possession of heroin, unlawful possession of methamphetamine, delivery within 1,000 feet of a school and endangering the welfare of a minor, according to court documents.

She pled guilty to one count each of endangering the welfare of a minor and delivery of a controlled substance/heroin, a Class A misdemeanor and Class A felony.

Shelburne was sentenced to 60 days in the Yamhill County Jail. However, she was given credit for time served.  She is now on 36 months of probation.

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Jessica Prokop/Editor-in-chief
Jessica Prokop can be reached at [email protected]