Former Vancouver man sentenced for bail jumping

A former Vancouver man who was convicted earlier this week of bail jumping in connection with a drug-related case was sentenced Thursday to 90 days in jail but was given credit for time served.

Omar Jose Vera, 50, stood trial earlier this week stemming from a 1995 arranged drug deal by Vancouver police. He was arrested at that time but posted bail Nov. 17, 1995, and failed to show up for an appointment with a probation counselor two weeks later, according to Columbian archives. He hadn’t been heard from until his arrest in June.

A jury on Tuesday acquitted Vera of amphetamine possession, unlawful possession of amphetamine with the intent to deliver and unlawful delivery of amphetamine. However, he was found guilty of bail jumping.

The standard sentencing range for the bail-jump charge was one to three months in jail. Vera had been in custody for 198 days.

Judge Derek Vanderwood sentenced Vera to 90 days in jail but acknowledged he had already served the sentence.

Vera’s defense attorney, Tonya Rulli, said it’s unfortunate that the jury convicted her client of bail jumping when all of the drug-related charges against him — the reason he was arrested in the first place — were ultimately dismissed.

She said Vera had no criminal history or run-ins with the law for 20 years. “He’s been a productive member of society,” Rulli said.

Vera won’t be immediately released, however, because it’s likely he will be turned over to immigration services for deportation.

Vera’s U.S. citizenship apparently lapsed at some point, Rulli said, and while he was in the process of renewing it, he was arrested.