A Durango man, who in February pleaded guilty to giving marijuana to teenage boys in exchange for sex, was sentenced Friday to six months in jail for contributing to the delinquency of a minor and sexual assault.
Defendant Shelton Oliver Urquidez faced up to two years in prison. The former charge is a Class 4 felony, the latter, a Class 1 misdemeanor.
But Urquidez, 36, will leave La Plata County Jail in 26 days because he was given credit on his 180-day sentence for the 154 days he’s spent in jail since his arrest in November.
Urquidez also drew seven years of closely monitored probation; he must register as a sex offender; and he may have to pay $611 of restitution. His attorney, public defender Justin Bogan, has 15 days to appeal the restitution order.
In addressing the court, Urquidez said he has contemplated his conduct at length and thought about how he can change.
The case was overseen by 6th Judicial District Judge Suzanne Carlson.
Carlson had Charles Schwaebe, supervisor of sex offender probation in La Plata County, explain to her the difference between the intensely supervised probation sought by Deputy District Attorney David Ottman and standard probation proposed by Bogan.
Bogan maintained that intensely supervised probation would impose unnecessary limitations such as curfews and perhaps an ankle bracelet on his client. Urquidez conceivably could have to call his probation supervisor before going to the store for groceries, Bogan said.
Ottman said Urquidez knew the age of the boys, 15 and 16, shared marijuana with them and committed a sexual assault that included penetration.
He sent to the cellphone of the 15-year-old a photo of himself naked and asked if the youngster wanted to be his boyfriend, Ottman said.
The assault occurred sometime in March 2012. According to an arrest report, one of the boys told police he believed the marijuana was spiked with some other drug because of its taste and the effects it had on him.
The boy said he first tried marijuana at age 11 and was familiar with its taste and smell.
daler@durangoherald.com
