photo by: Douglas County Sheriff's Office

Alejandro Marin Alfaro

A man’s prison sentence was suspended to probation on Friday in Douglas County District Court after police found nearly a kilogram of cocaine sewn into a coat in the car he was driving in 2020.

The man, Alejandro Marin Alfaro, 26, of McFarland, California, was originally charged with a level-two felony drug distribution charge. He pleaded no contest to a less severe level-four felony distribution charge in March, according to court documents.

Alfaro appeared in court via Zoom from California and was sentenced by Judge Sally Pokorny to 16 months of prison, suspended to 18 months of probation, according to the Douglas County District Attorney’s office. His probation will be transferred to California under the Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision. California will be supervising his probation.

Alfaro’s sentencing was continued twice because the court had trouble getting information about his possible criminal history from California.

Alfaro was driving from California to Chicago and passed through Douglas County on Jan. 22, 2020, when he was pulled over by Lawrence Police officer Kevin Henderson around 10 p.m. for a poorly lit tag light and a cracked brake light, according to court documents.

Alfaro was traveling with Ramon Bravo-Hurtado, who was driving the car when it entered Douglas County on Interstate 70, but Hurtado pulled over to switch places with Alfaro, and when they returned to the interstate Henderson pulled them over, according to court documents.

Henderson said during a preliminary hearing in November of 2020 that the suspect’s car wouldn’t pass him on the interstate but eventually did, and when he saw them pull over and switch drivers, he became suspicious. Henderson said he pulled the men over and instructed Alfaro to sit in the police cruiser while Henderson issued Alfaro a written warning for his tag light.

Henderson said that Alfaro claimed the brake light was broken after they had a minor accident with another vehicle while on their way from California.

After Henderson issued the warning he asked Alfaro if he could search the car, and Alfaro consented. Henderson said that Hurtado also agreed to the search.

The search was conducted by Henderson and Officer Matt Weidl, who found a coat with something sewn into the lining. Weidl cut it open the lining and found a brick of cocaine that weighed 975 grams, or a little over 2 pounds, Henderson said.

Alfaro was booked into the Douglas County Jail later that night and was released a week later on a $50,000 bond. Hurtado was not charged in the incident and was not subpoenaed as a witness during the case, according to court records.