Modesto man gets 13-year sentence in heroin sale

Modestan Amado Morales, 55, has been sentenced to 13 years in state prison for possession of heroin for sale. Judge Dawna Reeves handed down the sentence, which Stanislaus County District Attorney Birgit Fladager announced Friday.

A jury convicted Morales on Nov. 29. Morales had prior convictions for robbery and residential burglary, which are strikes under the "three strikes" law, and had served five past terms in state prison.

On June 9, 2009, the Modesto Police Department's Narcotic Enforcement Team conducted a buy-bust operation in which an operative attempted to buy heroin using a marked bill. After the sale through an intermediary, the police team arrested Morales and found him in possession of 66 pieces of black tar heroin, along with the marked money.