Man arrested in Lynn faces drug, weapons charges; held on $20G

SALEM – Bail for a Jamaica Plain man, busted on heroin and firearm charges, remains at $20,000 cash following his arraignment in Salem Superior Court.Nelson Joel Irizary-Alvarado, 34, of 3991 Washington St., pleaded innocent Friday to charges of trafficking over 28 grams of heroin, use of a firearm while committing a crime, illegal possession of a firearm and illegal possession of ammunition and a felon in possession of a firearm before Judge Timothy Q. Feeley.Irizary-Alvarado will have to come up with the $20,000 cash in order to get out of the Middleton Jail pending his trial.Assistant District Attorney Melissa Woodard insisted on the high bail of $20,000 cash, citing he was a flight risk, has a past record with out of state activity, was on probation at the time of his arrest and is facing a seven-year mandatory sentence on the trafficking of heroin charge.On Jan. 15 at around 12:30 a.m., police responded to a noise complaint at 92 South Common St., #3. They reportedly smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from the apartment as they knocked on the door and heard scuffling inside and someone say, “Oh (expletive), police,” reported Woodard.A man named Jared Owens opened the door and police entered. They found Irizary-Alvarado and his co-conspirator, Henry Ocasio, 24, who were both nervous when they saw police, inside another room.Police, being suspicious because of their actions, began to check out the room that apparently reeked of marijuana, discovering a pot, blender and sifter in a closet with white residue powder on them.Underneath a bed, a large bag was found with a substance inside and another bag was found under the mattress, containing a total of more than three ounces, approximately 87.70 grams of heroin. Also found was a firearm with one bullet in the chamber and 10 rounds of ammunition, according to Woodard.Police found a prescription from Beth Israel Hospital in the name of Henry Rivera in the room. They later learned that Henry Rivera was actually Henry Ocasio.Police seized $425 in cash from Ocasio believed to be profits from drug sales.Ocasio currently is in default on the case after being free on $3,000 cash bail out of Lynn District Court. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.Defense lawyer Alice Jayne pleaded for a much lesser bail amount, suggesting $2,000 cash, saying her client has no funds.She argued that Irizary-Alvarado was not a resident of the apartment and does not live in Lynn.She emphasized that there is a very strong suggestion of “mere presence” by her client in the apartment.Jayne said her client works as a construction laborer, has been here from Puerto Rico for nine years and has lived several years in the same apartment in Boston while reminding Feeley that her client has always abided by his probationary obligations.But Feeley sided with the state, acknowledging there are triable issues in the case while pointing out that there is a seven-year mandatory prison term.