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Sheriff Pays Grower $25K For Wrongly Seized Marijuana Plants

peanutbutter

By peanutbutter
in USA News

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peanutbutter Advanced Member

peanutbutter

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http://www.tokeofthetown.com/2010/10/sheriff_pays_grower_25k_for_wrongly_seized_marijua.php#more

 

Plants? We Don't Need No Steenken Plants!

 

In yet another embarrassing fiasco for the hapless San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department, it is about to buy 43 dead marijuana plants for $25,000.

 

Rather than go to trial in federal court and fight a civil rights lawsuit brought by Los Osos, California resident Richard Steenken, the county and Sheriff's Department agreed to settle the case by paying up, reports Colin Rigley at the San Luis Obispo New Times.

 

The monetary amount is said to be roughly the cash value of the cannabis plants, which were seized in a botched pot raid on Steenken, a medical marijuana patient.

 

 

Richard Steenken was held for 21 days after being arrested for growing marijuana in his home before charges were dropped. Now Steenken's getting $25,000 for his plants.

​"I guess it could have been more," Steenken said of the settlement. "But it's a long time coming."

 

Steenken, a 45-year-old addiction specialist, was arrested on October 15, 2008, and two days later he was charged with felony cultivation of marijuana and possessing concentrated cannabis, among other chasrges. With his bail set at $40,000, Steenken decided to stay in jail, where he remained until November 3, when the District Attorney's Office dismissed all charges.

 

Upon his release, Steenken fought to have his property returned, which eventually happened, after a court order. But by the time he got his stuff back, the 43 plants -- which he was allowed to cultivate under state law as an authorized medical marijuana patient -- had died.

 

"Basically they told us, 'We're going to enforce federal law,' " said Steenken's attorney, Dana Rosenburg, a specialist in police misconduct cases. "So they're using state money... to enforce federal law, and that's unconstitutional."

 

Steenken got home during the middle of the raid, and found armed deputies invading his home. Not satisfied with just busting up his place, the cops raided the home of his then-girlfriend, three hours later.

 

Steenken filed a complaint with the U.S. District Court on November 9, 2009, with 257 claims including emotional distress, battery, false arrest, and violations of his First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendment rights.

 

"The county is really getting off easy here, because we're settling only for the value of the marijuana," Rosenburg said.

 

San Luis Obispo County supervisors gave authority to settle the case on October 5, according to County Counsel Warren Jensen. Though a verbal agreement was reached to settle the case for $25,000, the paperwork had not been finalized as of Thursday.

 

Jensen declined to comment on the case because the settlement had not been finalized, but said the county typically doesn't admit liability in such settlements.

 

Sheriff's Department spokesman Rob Bryn also passed the buck, declining to comment and deferring to the county.

 

Steenken said the settlement doesn't completely offset all the legal fees, but "it lets people know that what they did was incorrect."

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freemannabis Advanced Member

freemannabis

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I guess, I should add, the money should, ethically and rightfully speaking, be paid back to "The [people of the]County" by The armed, terrorist agent-criminals who robbed and abused Mr. Steenken and his medicine.

 

Thanks, PB, for helpin' to put a smile on my now much happier face this fine morning!

 

Be FREE!

 

(To keep on doin' what you do so well - for all of us!)

 

HARVEST The HEALING!

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MrShpongle Advanced Member

MrShpongle

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These types of cases, while rare, are starting to become more common in California. Unfortunately, they are only succeeding against state and local authorities, not the feds.

 

My growing guru had his 100% legal grow raided by the DEA two months ago in Lake County, CA. They destroyed 75 beautiful monsters that were running 5 feet wide and 7 feet tall, each capable of yielding 2-3 lbs. He was totally legal with prescriptions for everything, but he didn't own the land that he was growing on, he was simply renting an acre of hillside. The DEA had a hard-on for the landowner, and when they found the garden and realized that he didn't have scripts for it, they came in and destroyed everything. 24 hours later they found out it wasn't the landowner's garden. Their response? "Oops" My buddy's lawyer is telling him that had it been the sheriff, he'd be sitting pretty, but since it was the feds he's screwed.

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Kingpinn Advanced Member

Kingpinn

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Its going to start Nov 4th here folks. Had my card State police violated my civil rights.Theres an issue here and I intend on getting to the bottom of it. As the gentelman above i had no reason to be arrested and treated as a criminal. Who will make that right again. Who will turn back the page on this one. Tired of sharing my life with the likes of Randy Colbry and his thugs. Had my card and this issue should have never made it to the Appeals Court or any court for that matter. Dont know the LAW READ THE BOOK.Dont know your job READ THE BOOK. Ignorance of the law is no excuse

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  • 3 weeks later...
Kingpinn Advanced Member

Kingpinn

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Well all i hear is greef when i say i need compensation for the 22 plants killed in 2 wrongfull raids conducted by law enforcment. Why would it be that this person in California gets his property back but it wont happen for me. Well i will be in Kalkaska to ask just such questions. I have had my property stolen and i want it back period. The caregiver in that case had that nollie what ever thing signed and the police are still giving him greef in getting his stuff back. I ll crush these freaks that think they are above the law . Anyone that thinks i wont how do you like your CROW well done i hope. The BS stops here folks

 

TIRED OF GETTING YUCKED WITH

Slow simmered CROW aint bad either

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rockinlespaul Advanced Member

rockinlespaul

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Its going to start Nov 4th here folks. Had my card State police violated my civil rights.Theres an issue here and I intend on getting to the bottom of it. As the gentelman above i had no reason to be arrested and treated as a criminal. Who will make that right again. Who will turn back the page on this one. Tired of sharing my life with the likes of Randy Colbry and his thugs. Had my card and this issue should have never made it to the Appeals Court or any court for that matter. Dont know the LAW READ THE BOOK.Dont know your job READ THE BOOK. Ignorance of the law is no excuse

 

So what happened? Were you compensated?

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Annnie Advanced Member

+Annnie

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Well all i hear is greef when i say i need compensation for the 22 plants killed in 2 wrongfull raids conducted by law enforcment. Why would it be that this person in California gets his property back but it wont happen for me. Well i will be in Kalkaska to ask just such questions. I have had my property stolen and i want it back period. The caregiver in that case had that nollie what ever thing signed and the police are still giving him greef in getting his stuff back. I ll crush these freaks that think they are above the law . Anyone that thinks i wont how do you like your CROW well done i hope. The BS stops here folks

 

TIRED OF GETTING YUCKED WITH

Slow simmered CROW aint bad either

YEAH!! THe BS stops Here!!

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