Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
Two Hampton Township residents are facing felonies for allegedly violating the state's medical marijuana laws more than a year ago.
The evening of July 26, 2016, Hampton Township police and Essexville Public Safety officers executed a search warrant at 127 E. Nebobish Road, the residence of Jennifer R. Fields and Jeremy S. Velasquez. Officers wrote in their reports that as they approached the residence, they could smell pot emanating from the home.
Velasquez opened the door to police and allowed them in. Fields was also present at the time as officers informed the pair they had a warrant to search the place. The residents told officers the grow operation was upstairs.
In one upstairs room, police found 31 marijuana plants. In another, they found 34 smaller ones. A third room contained scales, packing materials, and packaged pot, court records show. Police also found 24 $100 bills in a bag.
Fields told police she was the only registered caregiver. Velasquez denied that he had been selling or giving marijuana, asserting that he and Fields had adhered to the laws governing medical marijuana production.
Police inspected a cellphone Fields said belonged to her daughter. In doing so, they found text messages dating back to March describing the sale of marijuana, court records show. Police wrote in their reports, contained in court files, that the phone's content indicated it was in fact Velasquez's.
A report from the Michigan State Police Crime Lab dated June 22, 2017, indicates 501.92 grams, or about 1.1 lbs., of marijuana was analyzed.
Authorities on Sept. 7 issued warrants for Fields, 41, and Velasquez, 35. Both appeared in Bay County District Court on Sept. 14 to be arraigned on single counts of delivering or manufacturing a controlled substance-marijuana and conspiracy to commit that crime. Both charges are four-year felonies.
The month before his arraignment, Velasquez appeared in Bay County Circuit Court and pleaded guilty to one count of delivering or manufacturing a controlled substance-marijuana. Judge Joseph K. Sheeran is to sentence him on that conviction on Monday, Oct. 16.
Fields and Velasquez are represented by Saginaw attorney James F. Gust.
"We're not sure at this point in time what the violation of the law was," Gust said. He added that Velasquez was a medical marijuana patient at the time the warrant was executed and that Fields was his registered caregiver.
According to the state's Medical Marijuana Act, patients can have 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana and caregivers can grow up to 12 plants producing 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana for each of their five patients and themselves. Police reports related to this incident indicate Fields had at least four patients other than Velasquez.
Fields and Velasquez, who married since their home was searched, are to appear for a preliminary examination at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 27.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Bay County residents charged with illegally growing medical marijuana | MLive.com
Author: Cole Waterman
Contact: MLive contacts, services and support | MLive Contacts - MLive.com
Photo Credit: David Johnson
Website: Michigan Local News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - MLive.com
The evening of July 26, 2016, Hampton Township police and Essexville Public Safety officers executed a search warrant at 127 E. Nebobish Road, the residence of Jennifer R. Fields and Jeremy S. Velasquez. Officers wrote in their reports that as they approached the residence, they could smell pot emanating from the home.
Velasquez opened the door to police and allowed them in. Fields was also present at the time as officers informed the pair they had a warrant to search the place. The residents told officers the grow operation was upstairs.
In one upstairs room, police found 31 marijuana plants. In another, they found 34 smaller ones. A third room contained scales, packing materials, and packaged pot, court records show. Police also found 24 $100 bills in a bag.
Fields told police she was the only registered caregiver. Velasquez denied that he had been selling or giving marijuana, asserting that he and Fields had adhered to the laws governing medical marijuana production.
Police inspected a cellphone Fields said belonged to her daughter. In doing so, they found text messages dating back to March describing the sale of marijuana, court records show. Police wrote in their reports, contained in court files, that the phone's content indicated it was in fact Velasquez's.
A report from the Michigan State Police Crime Lab dated June 22, 2017, indicates 501.92 grams, or about 1.1 lbs., of marijuana was analyzed.
Authorities on Sept. 7 issued warrants for Fields, 41, and Velasquez, 35. Both appeared in Bay County District Court on Sept. 14 to be arraigned on single counts of delivering or manufacturing a controlled substance-marijuana and conspiracy to commit that crime. Both charges are four-year felonies.
The month before his arraignment, Velasquez appeared in Bay County Circuit Court and pleaded guilty to one count of delivering or manufacturing a controlled substance-marijuana. Judge Joseph K. Sheeran is to sentence him on that conviction on Monday, Oct. 16.
Fields and Velasquez are represented by Saginaw attorney James F. Gust.
"We're not sure at this point in time what the violation of the law was," Gust said. He added that Velasquez was a medical marijuana patient at the time the warrant was executed and that Fields was his registered caregiver.
According to the state's Medical Marijuana Act, patients can have 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana and caregivers can grow up to 12 plants producing 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana for each of their five patients and themselves. Police reports related to this incident indicate Fields had at least four patients other than Velasquez.
Fields and Velasquez, who married since their home was searched, are to appear for a preliminary examination at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 27.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Bay County residents charged with illegally growing medical marijuana | MLive.com
Author: Cole Waterman
Contact: MLive contacts, services and support | MLive Contacts - MLive.com
Photo Credit: David Johnson
Website: Michigan Local News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - MLive.com
