Pubdate: Sat, 22 Aug 2015 Source: San Diego Union Tribune (CA) Copyright: 2015 Union-Tribune Publishing Co. Contact: http://www.utsandiego.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/386 Note: Seldom prints LTEs from outside it's circulation area. Author: Scott Schwebke 13 PEOPLE TO BE ARRAIGNED IN POT SHOP RAID SANTA ANA Thirteen people are scheduled to be arraigned Oct. 15 on charges in connection with a controversial raid at a medical marijuana dispensary where Santa Ana police were caught on hidden video purportedly snacking on pot edibles. Anthony L. Curiale, a Brea-based attorney representing the defendants who are either volunteers or employees at Sky High Collective, said Friday he will enter not guilty pleas on their behalf in Orange County Superior Court. Following the May 26 raid at Sky High, the defendants were cited for suspicion of unlawful operation of a medical marijuana collective. If convicted of the misdemeanor offense, they face up to 6 months in jail or $1,000 fine, Curiale said. However, at the discretion of the Santa Ana City Attorney's Office, those charges could be reduced to an infraction that doesn't carry any times behind bars, he said. Among the defendants is Marla James, a 54-year-old amputee who gained notoriety after video clips of the raid were provided to the media by Matthew Pappas, a Long Beach attorney who is also representing Sky High. One clip shows police with weapons drawn entering Sky High and dismantling video cameras inside the building. After most of the cameras are taken down, a camera officers didn't detect shows them making disparaging comments about James, who at the time of the raid was in her wheelchair inside the dispensary. "Did you punch that one-legged old Benita?" a male officer asks a female officer, apparently referring to James. "I was about to kick her in her (expletive) nub," the female officer replies, subtitles with the video read. The Santa Ana Police Department has launched an internal affairs investigation into the actions of three officers involved in the raid. Pappas said Friday that following the raid police left six "severely damaged" Sky High video cameras at the collective and that he later turned them over to prosecutors at the request of the Orange County District Attorney's Office. Roxi Fyad, a spokeswoman for the District Attorney's Office, said the agency won't release information at this time whether prosecutors are evaluating the cameras or are considering criminal charges in connection with the raid. Also on Friday, Orange County Superior Court Judge Richard M. King continued until Oct. 30 a hearing to consider a petition from Curiale seeking the return of more than $7,000 in cash, pot and other items seized from Sky High during May and July raids. The return of the evidence could affect the case against the 13 individuals who face criminal charges in the raid, said Sandra Schwarzmann, a senior assistant city attorney - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom