Bail continued for Lynn man on charges of drug trafficking

SALEM – Bail for a Lynn man facing a seven-year state prison term for peddling OxyContin was continued at $5,000 cash following his arraignment in Salem Superior Court Wednesday.Noel Cruz, 31, of 16 Minot St., #3, remains free on bail after he pleaded not guilty to a charge of trafficking over 28 grams of Opium before Judge Timothy Q. Feeley.Feeley set the same bail amount previously established in Lynn District Court, as jointly agreed by the prosecutor and defense, and continued the case to May 4 for a pretrial hearing.Police arrested Cruz on the night of Jan. 11 after apparently shoplifting at the Shaw’s Grocery Store, located at 43 State St., in Lynn.During a pat frisk they reportedly seized 180 tablets of OxyContin pills weighing 45.58 grams.A conviction on the charge carries a minimum mandatory punishment of seven years behind bars.Assistant District Attorney Marshal H. Slingerland is prosecuting the case and public defender Thomas Pierce is his defense lawyer.Cruz has been deemed indigent, meaning he has no funds to hire his own attorney. The state will pay all costs, but he is required to pay $150 towards his legal representation.