Rick Morse, the owner of a Tower District medical-marijuana clinic who has been sent to Fresno County Jail three times to serve a 15-day sentence, was freed for the third time this morning because of overcrowding.
Morse walked out of the jail because a 1994 federal court order determines when nonviolent prisoners must be freed, Fresno County Sheriff's officials say.
Fresno County Superior Court Judge Donald R. Franson on Tuesday warned Sheriff Margaret Mims that Morse must serve his entire 15-day sentence. On May 14, Franson had sentenced Morse to 15 days in jail for violating a court order to stop selling marijuana from his storefront clinic on Olive Avenue. He was released from the jail eight hours later.
On May 20, Morse was in Franson's courtroom again for a hearing on whether the city had the right to shut down his business. Franson ordered him returned to jail a second time to serve the rest of the 15-day sentence. Morse was released from jail Monday, again due to crowding. It is not known yet whether Franson will order a hearing this afternoon to return Morse to jail.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: The Fresno Bee
Author: Jim Guy
Contact: The Fresno Bee
Copyright: 2010 The Fresno Bee
Website: Fresno pot-shop owner freed again
Morse walked out of the jail because a 1994 federal court order determines when nonviolent prisoners must be freed, Fresno County Sheriff's officials say.
Fresno County Superior Court Judge Donald R. Franson on Tuesday warned Sheriff Margaret Mims that Morse must serve his entire 15-day sentence. On May 14, Franson had sentenced Morse to 15 days in jail for violating a court order to stop selling marijuana from his storefront clinic on Olive Avenue. He was released from the jail eight hours later.
On May 20, Morse was in Franson's courtroom again for a hearing on whether the city had the right to shut down his business. Franson ordered him returned to jail a second time to serve the rest of the 15-day sentence. Morse was released from jail Monday, again due to crowding. It is not known yet whether Franson will order a hearing this afternoon to return Morse to jail.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: The Fresno Bee
Author: Jim Guy
Contact: The Fresno Bee
Copyright: 2010 The Fresno Bee
Website: Fresno pot-shop owner freed again
