People v. Lopez

OPINION OF THE COURT

Fein, J.

Sixto Lopez appeals from a judgment rendered May 4, 1979 convicting him upon his plea of guilty of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree and sentencing him to an indeterminate term of four years to life. The issue is the denial of a speedy trial.

Lopez is alleged to have made two illegal sales of heroin on December 21 and 22, 1976, to undercover police then en*288gaged in a major narcotics crackdown operation. It is conceded that defendant was a relatively insignificant target in this 18-month “Operation Shadow”. Four months later, in April…