Former El Dorado County Sheriff's Deputy pleads guilty to drug trafficking

Submitted by paula on Tue, 02/09/2016 - 9:23pm

Mark Zlendick, the former El Dorado County sheriff's deputy who was arrested in May, 2015 on drug charges, pleaded guilty to one charge of drug trafficking Tuesday, February 9.

The 48-year-old Zlendick, who was once a member of the South Lake El Dorado Narcotics Enforcement Team (SLEDNET), was arrested by deputies from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office after they responded to a domestic violence call at Zlendick's home in Minden, Nev. An investigation led them to charge him with possession of a controlled substance, trafficking methamphetamine, conspiracy and possession of paraphernalia.

According to the Associated Press, Zlendick was accused of stealing methamphetamine and cocaine from an evidence locker in South Lake Tahoe.

He was facing a fine of $500,000 and life in prison. Under the plea agreement, Zlendick faces 10 to 25 years in prison and all other drug charges are dropped.

He goes back to court on April 11, 2016 to be sentenced.