Prosecutors have dismissed criminal charges against a 51-year-old medical marijuana patient, who lingered in county jail for months after being arrested for growing a dozen of the controversial plants. Deputy District Attorney Rosa Clark announced the news Friday at an unscheduled hearing for Don Kevin Lawrence in San Bernardino Superior Court, the same day The Sun ran a story featuring Lawrence's case. Prosecutors dropped three felony counts alleging Lawrence had cultivated and possessed marijuana for sale and maintained a place to sell the drug. He was released Monday, his family said. [continues 397 words]
SAN BERNARDINO - A San Bernardino medical marijuana patient is languishing in county jail as prosecutors pursue charges against him for possessing and cultivating the controversial drug. Supporters of 51-year-old Don Lawrence say he was a patient at the THCF Medical Clinic in Riverside when police arrested him in October at his home. He had 12 marijuana plants, an amount police said exceeded state guidelines. Lawrence and his two adult sons were jailed, and they all were released upon posting bail. But Lawrence was taken into custody again Jan. 12 and his bail was increased to $500,000. Prosecutors alleged he had two prior offenses dating back to 1994 and 1987 - the latter occurring more than 22 years ago. [continues 783 words]
DOS PALOS -- Officers responding to a domestic disturbance call over the weekend uncovered an indoor marijuana garden and arrested three people. Dos Palos Detective Donavan Sizemore said the arrests and discovery of the marijuana garden were the result of a 2 a.m. call Saturday when officers responded to a domestic call in the [address deleted]. Officers reportedly found [name deleted] unconscious in bed from an apparent overdose. Her 8-year-old son was sleeping in the bed with her. She was taken to Los Banos Memorial Hospital for treatment and turned over to the police after being released, the detective said. [continues 386 words]
FRESNO -- A 58-year-old Winton man indicted by a federal grand jury on marijuana-growing charges is awaiting a hearing in federal court. Dustin Robert Costa, also known as the Rev. D.C. Greenhouse, was arrested recently on federal charges of cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in connection with drug trafficking offenses. A detention hearing is scheduled Wednesday for Costa in Fresno Federal District Court and a status conference is scheduled for Aug. 22, said Assistant United States Attorney Karen Escobar, who is prosecuting the case. [continues 193 words]
