Waltham man pleads not guilty to cocaine possession charge

A Waltham man has pleaded not guilty to a charge of possessing a class B drug in relation to an incident on Exchange Street. 

On June 27 at 8 p.m., a police officer encountered Emanual Sewaguma, 34, homeless, of Waltham walking on Grant Street. According to the police report, the officer observed Sewaguma interact with an individual that is known to Waltham police to be involved with cocaine. The officer observed the individual give something to Sewaguma and walk away.

The officer approached Sewaguma on Exchange Street, where Sewaguma consented to a search. According to the police report, the officer located three tied-off corner bags of cocaine totalling 2.4 grams inside ski goggles that Sewaguma had on his head. When asked where he got the cocaine, Sewaguma informed the officer that he got it from the individual observed earlier. Sewaguma was then arrested.

Sewaguma pleaded not guilty on June 29 to a charge of possession of a class B drug. He was released on personal recognizance by Judge Ellen M. Caulo and will face a pretrial hearing for his case on Sept. 23.

Additional court activity

Najibullah Yazdany, 40, of Woodside, N.Y., pleaded not guilty on June 29 to a charge of violating an abuse prevention order. The charge stems from an incident that took place at a residence in Waltham. He was released on personal recognizance by Caulo and will face a pretrial hearing Sept. 23.

Jonathan Quintanilla, 26, of Waltham, pleaded not guilty on June 29 to a charge of trespassing. The charge is in relation to an incident at The Merc apartment complex. He was released on  personal recognizance by Judge Sarah Kennedy. Discovery compliance and jury selection for the case will take place Sept. 3.

Tyrone Illuminado Martinez, 33, of Waltham was indicted on July 2 for charges of possession to distribute a class B drug, trafficking cocaine in an amount of over 200 grams and conspiracy to violate drug law. The charges are in relation to a Suburban Middlesex County Drug Task Force operation in April. The charges were put to rest with a nolle prosequi motion, meaning that the state decided not to pursue the charges. A nolle prosequi motion allows the state to refile the charges within the statute of limitations of the crime.