Perris Councilman Faces Methamphetamine Charges

PERRIS (AP) — A Perris city councilman is facing five methamphetamine-related charges after he summoned police to a hotel to report a stolen iPad.

The Riverside County District Attorney's Office charged 28-year-old Julio Cesar Rodriguez on Thursday with three felonies, including possession of methamphetamine.

He was also charged with two misdemeanors, including being under the influence of meth.

The councilman called police to a hotel in June to report his city-issued iPad had been stolen.

Investigators determined that Rodriguez was under the influence of meth and three glass smoking pipes were located in the motel room.

Investigators say the theft report stemmed from a dispute between Rodriguez and two men involving meth and store merchandise.

Rodriguez's attorney told the Riverside Press-Enterprise he thought the case involved a small amount of drugs.

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