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Christopher Seekins, a Winsted resident charged last fall with growing marijuana in his Victorian-style house, accepted a plea agreement from state prosecutors on Thursday that will allow him to avoid jail time if he stays out of trouble.
As part of that deal, Seekins must get rid of bright-green marijuana leaves he painted on his High Street house, a move that irked town officials but got the 26-year-old's name in newspapers throughout the country.
Seekins stood before Judge Heidi G. Winslow in Bantam Superior Court wearing a dark suit and tan hiking boots. Until Thursday afternoon, Seekins, who has represented himself, had argued vigorously the search of his home was not up to snuff.
He pleaded guilty on Thursday to a single count of cultivation of marijuana, a felony that carries a two-year jail term. Supervisory State's Attorney Andrew M. Wittstein, though, has offered to suspend that while assigning three years of probation.
Winsted police charged Seekins last October after finding about 100 marijuana plants, grow lights and heaters in his house. They needed a flatbed truck to haul away the evidence.
Seekins said the plants were hemp and were part of his research.
After his arrest, Seekins painted green leaves on his house, each accompanied by the word "hemp." The house is visible from Winsted's main thoroughfare and town officials said they received some complaints.
The plea agreement includes a stipulation that would prevent Seekins from painting the leaves again, Wittstein said. The state has agreed to drop other charges against Seekins, such as possession of marijuana with intent to sell.
Though it appeared Seekins gave up his battle on Thursday, he managed to bring up one his favorite subjects: the U.S. Constitution and the rights it affords citizens. At a previous hearing, Seekins provided Winslow with pages from the document.
And when Winslow asked Seekins whether he found his guilty plea appropriate, Seekins responded with "if hemp qualifies as marijuana, yes."
Winslow told him "it is of the same family."
A few people in the gallery snickered.
Also as part of the agreement, Seekins will have to perform 300 hours of community service and must refrain from possessing or using illegal drugs. He is scheduled to be sentenced June 30.
Newshawk: Urdedpal
Source: Republican-American (CT)
Author: Bryan Sundie
Published: Friday, May 5, 2006
Copyright: 2006 American-Republican Inc.
As part of that deal, Seekins must get rid of bright-green marijuana leaves he painted on his High Street house, a move that irked town officials but got the 26-year-old's name in newspapers throughout the country.
Seekins stood before Judge Heidi G. Winslow in Bantam Superior Court wearing a dark suit and tan hiking boots. Until Thursday afternoon, Seekins, who has represented himself, had argued vigorously the search of his home was not up to snuff.
He pleaded guilty on Thursday to a single count of cultivation of marijuana, a felony that carries a two-year jail term. Supervisory State's Attorney Andrew M. Wittstein, though, has offered to suspend that while assigning three years of probation.
Winsted police charged Seekins last October after finding about 100 marijuana plants, grow lights and heaters in his house. They needed a flatbed truck to haul away the evidence.
Seekins said the plants were hemp and were part of his research.
After his arrest, Seekins painted green leaves on his house, each accompanied by the word "hemp." The house is visible from Winsted's main thoroughfare and town officials said they received some complaints.
The plea agreement includes a stipulation that would prevent Seekins from painting the leaves again, Wittstein said. The state has agreed to drop other charges against Seekins, such as possession of marijuana with intent to sell.
Though it appeared Seekins gave up his battle on Thursday, he managed to bring up one his favorite subjects: the U.S. Constitution and the rights it affords citizens. At a previous hearing, Seekins provided Winslow with pages from the document.
And when Winslow asked Seekins whether he found his guilty plea appropriate, Seekins responded with "if hemp qualifies as marijuana, yes."
Winslow told him "it is of the same family."
A few people in the gallery snickered.
Also as part of the agreement, Seekins will have to perform 300 hours of community service and must refrain from possessing or using illegal drugs. He is scheduled to be sentenced June 30.
Newshawk: Urdedpal
Source: Republican-American (CT)
Author: Bryan Sundie
Published: Friday, May 5, 2006
Copyright: 2006 American-Republican Inc.
