By Steve Elliott of Toke of the Town
San Luis Obispo County prosecutors are now 0-11 in their yearlong effort to convict a dozen medical marijuana collective operators, after a SLO Superior Court judge dismissed the cases of two more defendants last week.
None of the so-called Doobie Dozen has even made it to trial, reports Matt Fountain at New Times SLO.
On February 15, Superior Court Judge Jacqueline Duffy dismissed all charges against Shelly and Rianna Allred after prosecutors said they couldn’t bring the cases before a jury.
The Allreds were arrested along with 10 other SLO County residents near the end of 2010 after a two-month investigation into medical marijuana collectives. The arrests were carried out under “Operation Green Sweep” by they SLO County Narcotics Task Force, which has since been disbanded.
Prosecutors are now just one case away from being complete, 0-12 losers on the local level.
The District Attorney’s Office has said it will take all 11 dismissals to the state appellate court. Chief Deputy D.A. Jerret Gran claimed the office had filed the paperwork for its intent to appeal.
The last defendant, Peter Miller of Paso Robles, is scheduled to appear at a pretrial hearing in March.
Despite all charges being dismissed in the 11 cases, most former defendants haven’t been able to get their property back.
Seized bank accounts, personal computers, and cannabis will likely be held through the appeal process, and judging by law enforcement’s sad track record, may never be returned at all.
Article From Toke of the Town and republished with special permission.
