HUISH TO SERVE TIME ON POT CHARGE

Olympic gold medalist Justin Huish must serve four months in jail after
pleading no contest to a felony charge that he sold marijuana out of his
Simi Valley home.

The 1996 archery champion could have received up to three years in prison.
But citing Huish's lack of a criminal record, Ventura County Superior Court
Judge Herbert Curtis on Wednesday decided on the lesser sentence.

Prosecutors said they were satisfied, noting that Huish, 25, seemed
remorseful. He must report to jail July 11.

Huish, who pleaded no contest last month, was arrested Feb. 15, 2000, after
police witnessed an apparent drug deal outside the Olympian's home in Simi
Valley.

A man leaving Huish's home was stopped by detectives, who found a plastic
bag of marijuana in his pocket.

The man said he bought the drugs from Huish, prompting police to return to
the archer's house with a search warrant.

During the search, investigators found a briefcase holding several
half-ounce plastic bags of marijuana, pot seeds and apparent business cards.

An unloaded shotgun, two scales and a safe containing $23,000 in cash were
also seized, police said.

Huish pleaded not guilty to the charges after his arrest, claiming he was
providing the drug for an HIV patient.

Prosecutors, however, argued that Huish was not a qualified caregiver
allowed under state law to administer marijuana for illnesses.

They said Huish was simply selling the marijuana to a caregiver, which
meant he was not protected by the law.

The case ended Huish's archery career. He quit the U.S. team last year
after his arrest, telling the National Archery Assn. that he didn't want
the case to interrupt his team's practice as members prepared for the
Sydney Games.

The Olympic Committee sent a letter to the judge in the case commending
Huish for his decision to resign from the team and take responsibility for
his actions.

Before announcing the sentence, the judge also considered letters from
Huish and his family.

Huish's roommate, Brian Mastrangelo, 24, was also charged in the case with
three misdemeanor counts of allowing drug sales at the home he shared with
Huish and possession of martial arts weapons.

Mastrangelo was found guilty last month by Curtis in a nonjury trial and
sentenced to 60 days in jail.

Prosecutors said Huish was charged with the more serious counts because he
was responsible for selling the drug.


Newshawk: Terry Liittschwager
Pubdate: Wed, 13 Jun 2001
Source: Los Angeles Times (CA)
Copyright: 2001 Los Angeles Times
Contact: letters@latimes.com
Website: http://www.latimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/248
Author: Tina Dirmann, Times Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)