Perris city councilman pleads guilty to drug charges and resigns

Perris City Councilman Julio Rodriguez has pleaded guilty to a felony drug charge and has finally stepped down after resisting calls to resign his council seat.

As part of a plea deal, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to a sole count of furnishing methamphetamine on Monday.

In September, the 29-year-old was charged with felony possession of meth and two counts of furnishing the drug. He was also charged with two misdemeanors: being under the influence of meth and possession of a drug pipe.

The former councilman’s attorney has declined to speak until after Rodriguez’s May 15 sentencing.

Perris Mayor Daryl Busch says the council will have to call for a special election or appoint a replacement to fulfill the remainder of the term, which expires in 2016.