Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A judge ruled Thursday that he believes a man from California knew he was hauling more than a ton of marijuana in the back of a semi truck on Interstate 44 two years ago. Bismarck Aguilar, 48, faces a prison sentence between 10 and 30 years (life) for first-degree drug trafficking. He will not be eligible for probation or parole.
Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers found the 2,400 pounds of pot after a traffic stop on Nov. 28, 2008. Aguilar, who lives in Rancho Cucamunga, Cal., contended he didn’t know the marijuana was there because he didn’t load the truck, and someone else placed the seal on the trailer door. Aguilar testified at his trial last October that the seal hadn’t been broken since the truck left the loading dock.
Investigators testified Aguilar did not take a direct route to his destination after he picked up his load, and spent 36 hours in Tolleson, Ariz., before he picked up his load.
A state trooper testified Aguilar was nervous after he was stopped. That, plus the fact that Aguilar lives in California but had been off duty for an excessive amount of time in Arizona made the trooper suspicious. Also, the bill of lading was computer generated but the seal number was handwritten on the paperwork. All that led to the search that found the pot.
Greene County Circuit Judge Calvin Holden heard the evidence after Aguilar waived his right to trial by jury. Holden said he didn’t find Aguilar’s testimony to be credible and convicted him. Aguilar doesn't speak good English and required an interpreter during his court hearings and trial.
Holden scheduled a sentencing hearing for April 22.
NewsHawk: Jim Behr: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: ky3.com
Author: KY3 News
Copyright: 2011 Schurz Communications
Contact: Contact KY3 - ky3.com
Website: Judge convicts man from CA for hauling 2,400 pounds of pot in semi truck - ky3.com
Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers found the 2,400 pounds of pot after a traffic stop on Nov. 28, 2008. Aguilar, who lives in Rancho Cucamunga, Cal., contended he didn’t know the marijuana was there because he didn’t load the truck, and someone else placed the seal on the trailer door. Aguilar testified at his trial last October that the seal hadn’t been broken since the truck left the loading dock.
Investigators testified Aguilar did not take a direct route to his destination after he picked up his load, and spent 36 hours in Tolleson, Ariz., before he picked up his load.
A state trooper testified Aguilar was nervous after he was stopped. That, plus the fact that Aguilar lives in California but had been off duty for an excessive amount of time in Arizona made the trooper suspicious. Also, the bill of lading was computer generated but the seal number was handwritten on the paperwork. All that led to the search that found the pot.
Greene County Circuit Judge Calvin Holden heard the evidence after Aguilar waived his right to trial by jury. Holden said he didn’t find Aguilar’s testimony to be credible and convicted him. Aguilar doesn't speak good English and required an interpreter during his court hearings and trial.
Holden scheduled a sentencing hearing for April 22.
NewsHawk: Jim Behr: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: ky3.com
Author: KY3 News
Copyright: 2011 Schurz Communications
Contact: Contact KY3 - ky3.com
Website: Judge convicts man from CA for hauling 2,400 pounds of pot in semi truck - ky3.com
