Lynn man gets probation for cocaine

SALEM – A Lynn man who admitted to a 1995 drug case received 2 and one-half years in jail, with all but 142 days suspended – deemed served – and was placed on probation for two years.Cesar Figueroa, 37, last known address of 26B Lewis St., changed his plea to guilty Tuesday afternoon in Salem Superior Court to a reduced charge of possession with the intent to distribute cocaine.The confession before Judge David A. Lowy was the result of a plea concession by the commonwealth and defense lawyer.Figueroa had been charged with trafficking over 14 grams of cocaine, which carries a minimum mandatory punishment of three years in prison.Assistant District Attorney William J. Melkonian said the charge stemmed from his arrest on December 11, 2005.Lynn Police officers Michael Vail and Michael Hanlon went to Figueroa’s apartment on Lewis Street to investigate a report concerning a stolen dog.While at the apartment, they observed Figueroa was acting suspicious and pat frisked him, finding cocaine on his person. A further search of the apartment revealed additional cocaine, approximately 21 grams in total.Figueroa had been in default on the case for nearly 10 years in which he had been serving time in New Hampshire on an unrelated case.He was arraigned in Superior Court in January 2007 and has been free on bail.Figueroa was represented by public defender Amanda L. Barker.