Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
A North San Juan couple is facing substantial prison time in Montana after allegedly being caught with more than 25 pounds of marijuana in their vehicle.
Todd Anthony Merrell, 45, and Judy C. Harms, 40, were arrested in Bozeman after surveillance conducted by the Missouri River Drug Task Force, according to affidavits filed by Bozeman Police Det. Jim Veltkamp.
Members of the drug task force allegedly were monitoring a drug transaction on Jan. 22 and subsequently arrested Merrell and Harms. The couple's vehicle was searched and detectives allegedly found 24 bags of marijuana weighing nearly 26 pounds in all. They also allegedly found a bowl containing 5.8 ounces of suspected hash.
According to the affidavits, receipts and other items in the vehicle indicated the two had just arrived from California. The resulting investigation found that Merrell and Harms allegedly had brought the drugs from California, possibly to sell to a Bozeman medical marijuana dispensary.
At standard medical marijuana prices, the marijuana alone has a value of more than $160,000, according to a press release from the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office.
Merrell and Harms both were charged with criminal possession of marijuana and hashish with intent to distribute, and criminal distribution of dangerous drugs. Bail was set at $30,000 each. If convicted, Merrell and Harms each face up to 42 years in prison, according to the Bozeman Daily Chronicle.
The couple's arrest is another in a string of Nevada County natives being apprehended in other states across the country for allegedly transporting marijuana in the past two years.
Gary Benedict, of Nevada City, and Kelly Robyn, of Grass Valley, were arrested in April 2010 near North Platte, Neb., according to the Nebraska State Patrol.
The arrest came after officers pulled over their 1994 Cadillac for speeding and allegedly discovered 24 pounds of marijuana in two large vacuum-sealed bags inside a large duffel bag.
Brooke Molina, 28, was arrested in December 2009 near Joplin, Mo., when she was stopped for speeding.
Troopers allegedly found numerous wrapped Christmas presents in the cargo area of her vehicle containing 20 one-pound bags of processed marijuana.
Nevada County Sheriff's deputies searched Molina's residence in Nevada County and allegedly found an indoor marijuana garden with 20 plants, about 40 pounds of processed marijuana in one-pound bags packaged for sale, 18 Rubbermaid totes containing marijuana bud on the stem, and marijuana shake — bits of leaves left over from trimming the buds.
The totes allegedly contained another 30 to 40 pounds of marijuana. Molina currently has a felony case locally.
The Nevada County narcotics task force frequently gets reports from out of state involving local residents allegedly transporting marijuana, Sgt. Bill Smethers said at the time of Molina's arrest.
“We get contacted from everywhere — New York, Florida, Texas, Arizona,” Smethers said. “They're intercepting cars coming from Nevada County or coming back to Nevada County, carrying large quantities of processed marijuana or currency.”
NewsHawk: Jim Behr: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: theunion.com
Author: Liz Kellar
Copyright: 2011 The Union
Contact: contactus | TheUnion.com Online News | Grass Valley & Nevada County California
Website: NSJ couple arrested in Montana with 25 pounds of pot | TheUnion.com
Todd Anthony Merrell, 45, and Judy C. Harms, 40, were arrested in Bozeman after surveillance conducted by the Missouri River Drug Task Force, according to affidavits filed by Bozeman Police Det. Jim Veltkamp.
Members of the drug task force allegedly were monitoring a drug transaction on Jan. 22 and subsequently arrested Merrell and Harms. The couple's vehicle was searched and detectives allegedly found 24 bags of marijuana weighing nearly 26 pounds in all. They also allegedly found a bowl containing 5.8 ounces of suspected hash.
According to the affidavits, receipts and other items in the vehicle indicated the two had just arrived from California. The resulting investigation found that Merrell and Harms allegedly had brought the drugs from California, possibly to sell to a Bozeman medical marijuana dispensary.
At standard medical marijuana prices, the marijuana alone has a value of more than $160,000, according to a press release from the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office.
Merrell and Harms both were charged with criminal possession of marijuana and hashish with intent to distribute, and criminal distribution of dangerous drugs. Bail was set at $30,000 each. If convicted, Merrell and Harms each face up to 42 years in prison, according to the Bozeman Daily Chronicle.
The couple's arrest is another in a string of Nevada County natives being apprehended in other states across the country for allegedly transporting marijuana in the past two years.
Gary Benedict, of Nevada City, and Kelly Robyn, of Grass Valley, were arrested in April 2010 near North Platte, Neb., according to the Nebraska State Patrol.
The arrest came after officers pulled over their 1994 Cadillac for speeding and allegedly discovered 24 pounds of marijuana in two large vacuum-sealed bags inside a large duffel bag.
Brooke Molina, 28, was arrested in December 2009 near Joplin, Mo., when she was stopped for speeding.
Troopers allegedly found numerous wrapped Christmas presents in the cargo area of her vehicle containing 20 one-pound bags of processed marijuana.
Nevada County Sheriff's deputies searched Molina's residence in Nevada County and allegedly found an indoor marijuana garden with 20 plants, about 40 pounds of processed marijuana in one-pound bags packaged for sale, 18 Rubbermaid totes containing marijuana bud on the stem, and marijuana shake — bits of leaves left over from trimming the buds.
The totes allegedly contained another 30 to 40 pounds of marijuana. Molina currently has a felony case locally.
The Nevada County narcotics task force frequently gets reports from out of state involving local residents allegedly transporting marijuana, Sgt. Bill Smethers said at the time of Molina's arrest.
“We get contacted from everywhere — New York, Florida, Texas, Arizona,” Smethers said. “They're intercepting cars coming from Nevada County or coming back to Nevada County, carrying large quantities of processed marijuana or currency.”
NewsHawk: Jim Behr: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: theunion.com
Author: Liz Kellar
Copyright: 2011 The Union
Contact: contactus | TheUnion.com Online News | Grass Valley & Nevada County California
Website: NSJ couple arrested in Montana with 25 pounds of pot | TheUnion.com
