Pubdate: Sat, 13 Jun 2015 Source: Garden City Telegram (KS) Copyright: 2015 The Garden City Telegram Contact: http://www.gctelegram.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1476 Author: Angie Haflich Page: A1 BANDA TO TURN HERSELF IN The attorney for Shona Banda, the local medicinal marijuana advocate who made national news earlier this year after her son was taken into protective custody, said Banda plans to surrender herself for arrest Monday afternoon. Banda, 37, Garden City, was charged on June 5 with endangering a child, distribution or possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of school property, unlawful manufacture of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of drug paraphernalia. According to a press release issued Thursday by Banda's attorney, Sarah Swain, Banda will surrender for arrest at 2 p.m. Monday at the Finney County Jail, 304 N. Ninth St. Swain plans to be on hand to answer questions. "She will turn herself in Monday. We will be there with a bondsman to set bond and we're anticipating that the first appearance will be scheduled the next day," Swain said. "We also anticipate scheduling a preliminary at that time and that's when we will have our first opportunity to view the reports and the discovery." Banda could not be reached for comment. Finney County Attorney Susan Richmeier said Thursday that bond has been set at $50,000. Once bond is set, Banda can turn herself in at any time. Swain said they plan to pay the bond Monday. According to Richmeier, if convicted, Banda could face anywhere from 11 to 17 years in prison. But Kisty Watson, Swain's assistant, said Banda could potentially face up to 30 years in prison based on sentencing guidelines. "The judge has the ability to sentence her up to double. So the 11 to 17 years, because of the five separate charges, the judge could double that sentence," Watson said. Richmeier said that kind of sentence is possible when someone has an extensive criminal history, but is doubtful in Banda's case because she doesn't have that kind of history. The drug investigation involving Banda and child-in-need-of-care case involving her son resulted from comments Banda 's son made during a drug education program held March 24 at his school, Bernadine Sitts Intermediate Center, that resulted in the Department of Children and Families and Garden City Police Department being contacted. According to police, the boy said his mother and other adults were avid drug users and that there was a lot of drug use occurring in his residence, which led police to suspect drugs were present in the home. Officers and DCF officials went to Banda's home that same day, where Banda initially denied them consent to search the residence. After getting a search warrant, police found 1.25 pounds of marijuana in plant, oil, joint, gel and capsule form and drug paraphernalia in the home. Officers also found a lab used for manufacturing cannabis oil. All of the items were within reach of the child, police said, prompting law enforcement and DCF officials to decide the boy should be removed from the home. Banda's son initially was placed in the custody of his father, who is separated from Banda, and then put into protective custody on April 16. It is unknown whether he remains in protective custody, due to District Magistrate Judge Richard Hodson placing a gag order on any and all proceedings in the child-in-need-of-care case. Banda became an advocate of cannabis and its medicinal properties after treating her own Crohn's disease with cannabis oil. She also authored a book titled, "Live Free or Die," and has appeared in YouTube videos and in online articles on www.naturalnews.com , sharing her knowledge of and belief in the medicinal benefits of cannabis oil. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom