Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Michael Goulding on Friday found a Toledo woman charged with selling marijuana and illegal mushrooms for "spiritual purposes" competent to stand trial on felony drug charges.
Charmaine Rose Bassett, 56, of the 3400 block of Secor Road entered not guilty pleas to aggravated possession of drugs, aggravated trafficking in drugs, and trafficking in marijuana. She is the founder and "medicine woman" at Anyana-Kai, a member of the Oklevueha Native American Church.
Though Bassett has previously refused to have an attorney represent her, she appeared in court with a lawyer and remained silent. Toledo attorney Scott Ciolek said he had been hired to represent Bassett, although she intended to retain her "jurisdictional defenses."
Indicted on the drug charges in January, Bassett has been held in the Lucas County jail since she was arrested June 7 in northeast Ohio after leaving the county and failing to appear for a court hearing in March.
After she was uncooperative in court, Judge Goulding ordered her to undergo a competency evaluation. On Friday, he said that while she "refused to answer certain questions about her identity etc.," she appeared to be competent based on a report from the Court Diagnostic and Treatment Center.
"She was quite loquacious. She appeared adequate in appearance and demeanor," the judge said. "She did not display any disorganization of speech or any of the telltale signs that would indicate incompetency. While her claims and beliefs one might take issue with on a logical level, there's nothing at least medically speaking that I see in this report that would tend to indicate concern for Ms. Bassett's" competency.
Mr. Ciolek asked for — and received — permission from the court to talk with the sheriff's office about allowing Bassett to take an alternative tuberculosis test so that she can be moved into the jail's general population. Because Bassett has refused the test, he said, she has been in an isolation cell.
Supporters and church members who have been holding regular "Free Charmaine" protests outside the courthouse filled the courtroom. Bassett said "I love you guys" as she was led back to jail by deputies.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Woman selling marijuana, illegal mushrooms for 'spiritual purposes' to face trial - The Blade
Author: Jennifer Feehan
Contact: The Blade
Photo Credit: JETTA FRASER
Website: Home - The Blade
Charmaine Rose Bassett, 56, of the 3400 block of Secor Road entered not guilty pleas to aggravated possession of drugs, aggravated trafficking in drugs, and trafficking in marijuana. She is the founder and "medicine woman" at Anyana-Kai, a member of the Oklevueha Native American Church.
Though Bassett has previously refused to have an attorney represent her, she appeared in court with a lawyer and remained silent. Toledo attorney Scott Ciolek said he had been hired to represent Bassett, although she intended to retain her "jurisdictional defenses."
Indicted on the drug charges in January, Bassett has been held in the Lucas County jail since she was arrested June 7 in northeast Ohio after leaving the county and failing to appear for a court hearing in March.
After she was uncooperative in court, Judge Goulding ordered her to undergo a competency evaluation. On Friday, he said that while she "refused to answer certain questions about her identity etc.," she appeared to be competent based on a report from the Court Diagnostic and Treatment Center.
"She was quite loquacious. She appeared adequate in appearance and demeanor," the judge said. "She did not display any disorganization of speech or any of the telltale signs that would indicate incompetency. While her claims and beliefs one might take issue with on a logical level, there's nothing at least medically speaking that I see in this report that would tend to indicate concern for Ms. Bassett's" competency.
Mr. Ciolek asked for — and received — permission from the court to talk with the sheriff's office about allowing Bassett to take an alternative tuberculosis test so that she can be moved into the jail's general population. Because Bassett has refused the test, he said, she has been in an isolation cell.
Supporters and church members who have been holding regular "Free Charmaine" protests outside the courthouse filled the courtroom. Bassett said "I love you guys" as she was led back to jail by deputies.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Woman selling marijuana, illegal mushrooms for 'spiritual purposes' to face trial - The Blade
Author: Jennifer Feehan
Contact: The Blade
Photo Credit: JETTA FRASER
Website: Home - The Blade
