Pubdate: Wed, 29 Aug 2007
Source: Quad-City Times (IA)
Copyright: 2007 Quad-City Times
Contact:  http://www.qctimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/857
Author: Jennifer Meyer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

TRIAL STARTS FOR FORMER WILTON MAYOR

The drug manufacturing and distributing conspiracy trial of former 
Wilton, Iowa, mayor Richard "Dick" Summy began Tuesday with jury 
selection in U.S. District Court in Davenport.

Summy, 56, was indicted on charges of conspiring to manufacture and 
deliver marijuana. He was arrested in September 2006 on the federal 
charges at an Iowa League of Cities meeting in Coralville.

After two years as mayor of the city, Summy resigned in October 2006, 
less than a month after he was charged.

Law enforcement officers involved in a year-long investigation allege 
Summy worked with a Keokuk, Iowa, businessman to grow and deliver 
more than 100 marijuana plants between January 2003 and September 2006.

Roger Houston, Summy's alleged conspirator, is among 18 witnesses the 
state plans to call during the trial, according to a preliminary 
witness list on file.

Houston admitted growing marijuana plants in the basement of his 
Keokuk heating and air conditioning business in Keokuk. He pleaded 
guilty in May, but has not yet been sentenced, to identical charges 
of conspiring to manufacture and distribute marijuana.

Houston, who cooperated with investigators, could receive less than 
the minimum five-year prison sentence.

Summy's attorney, F. Montgomery Brown of Clive, said Summy "believes 
he conspired to distribute marijuana, but not to manufacture it."

Summy attempted in May to plead guilty to conspiracy to deliver 
marijuana, but Judge John Jarvey rejected the plea because the double 
jeopardy statute may have prevented Special Assistant U.S. Attorney 
Melisa Zaehringer from pursuing the manufacturing charge.

At the time of his rejected plea, Summy said he entered an agreement 
with a confidential informant for the purchase of Houston's marijuana.

The informant told authorities he purchased either half-or 
whole-pound quantities of marijuana from Summy every six weeks, 
according to court documents. Summy was also allegedly captured on 
surveillance video accepting $800 in marked bills at a Des Moines bar 
in March 2006.

He faces up to 40 years in prison and $2 million in fines if convicted.
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