Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
Carrying neon green signs that said, “Dope Kills, Weed Heals, Legalize It,” a group of 10 braved Thursday’s bitterly cold temperatures to push for marijuana legalization outside state Superior Court in Hackensack.
But the protesters, who were met with honks from cars and cheers of support from those heading to court, were not associated with a larger pro-marijuana organization - they were there to support a friend.
Darren Richardson, 31, has been in Bergen County Jail since January - on what his friends and attorney called an excessive $300,000 bail - on numerous marijuana-related and money-laundering charges. A judge on Thursday refused to lower it.
“He would do anything for all of his friends all the time,” one friend, Jerry Rodriguez, said of Richardson. The friends described him as having a big heart and being a huge football fan who never missed a Giants game.
The protesters said marijuana was less harmful than other drugs, and Richardson’s bail should be lower because pot was found in his home. In New Jersey, marijuana is legal for certain medical purposes. Colorado, Alaska, Oregon and Washington are the only states that allow recreational use of the drug.
“Weed is nothing,” said a friend, Sandra Riley. “Weed doesn’t kill anybody.”
The friends also filled the back row of Judge Edward A. Jerejian’s courtroom while Richardson’s attorney, Brian Neary, asked the judge to reduce Richardson’s bail.
But an assistant prosecutor told the judge that Richardson’s case had been around awhile and that the bail was adequate, if not low for the charges he faces.
Last month, Richardson called Oakland police to his home for an attempted burglary. When police arrived, they discovered one of the burglars was Richardson’s sister, who contended that Richardson owed her 2 pounds of pot, said Assistant Prosecutor David Calviello.
That prompted police to get a search warrant, and they found 8 pounds of marijuana and $8,000 in the home, Calviello said. At first, Richardson was charged only with several second- and third-degree drug charges, and a judge set his bail at $150,000.
Richardson, who spends much of his time in California, left New Jersey and missed his court dates despite knowing that police were searching his home, Calviello said.
“After that little back and forth, we had zero confidence” that Richardson would return, Calviello said.
During that time, authorities also were investigating the source of the money found in Richardson’s home and an additional $15,000 seized from his car in a motor vehicle stop in November, the assistant prosecutor said.
Eventually, Richardson turned himself in several weeks later. That was when he was also charged with money laundering for the seized funds, which caused a judge to double his bail, Calviello said. Richardson has been in Bergen County Jail since and faces 10 to 20 years in prison if convicted.
Neary argued that his client’s bail should have remained at its original amount.
“I would simply suggest that $300,000 bail is excessive,” the attorney said.
Neary also represents Richardson on first-degree marijuana trafficking charges in Passaic County. Neary said that case has been pending for two years, and Richardson has never missed a court date.
Calviello said Richardson faced life imprisonment if he is found guilty on those charges.
“What more do you need that Mr. Richardson has every reason to flee the jurisdiction?” Calviello asked the judge.
Jerejian said the charges against Richardson were “serious” and that his record was long, as the attorneys said he has seven felony convictions.
Given the uncertainty of the charges pending in Passaic County, Jerejian said he did not think it was appropriate to reduce Richardson’s bail.
“The purpose of the statute is to ensure that he does appear in court,” Jerejian said.
Neary declined to comment on the judge’s ruling.
Jara Soldevila, a friend of Richardson’s who also is his co-defendant on the drug charges in Passaic, said she was disappointed in the decision.
“He’s not running,” Soldevila said.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Judge refuses to lower Oakland man's $300K bail in marijuana, money-laundering case - News - NorthJersey.com
Author: Mary Diduch
Contact: diduch@northjersey.com
Photo Credit: Kevin Wexler
Website: NorthJersey.com: Local News, Breaking News, Sports, Bergen, Passaic, Morris, Essex, Hudson, Sussex, Classifieds, Real Estate, Traffic & Weather
But the protesters, who were met with honks from cars and cheers of support from those heading to court, were not associated with a larger pro-marijuana organization - they were there to support a friend.
Darren Richardson, 31, has been in Bergen County Jail since January - on what his friends and attorney called an excessive $300,000 bail - on numerous marijuana-related and money-laundering charges. A judge on Thursday refused to lower it.
“He would do anything for all of his friends all the time,” one friend, Jerry Rodriguez, said of Richardson. The friends described him as having a big heart and being a huge football fan who never missed a Giants game.
The protesters said marijuana was less harmful than other drugs, and Richardson’s bail should be lower because pot was found in his home. In New Jersey, marijuana is legal for certain medical purposes. Colorado, Alaska, Oregon and Washington are the only states that allow recreational use of the drug.
“Weed is nothing,” said a friend, Sandra Riley. “Weed doesn’t kill anybody.”
The friends also filled the back row of Judge Edward A. Jerejian’s courtroom while Richardson’s attorney, Brian Neary, asked the judge to reduce Richardson’s bail.
But an assistant prosecutor told the judge that Richardson’s case had been around awhile and that the bail was adequate, if not low for the charges he faces.
Last month, Richardson called Oakland police to his home for an attempted burglary. When police arrived, they discovered one of the burglars was Richardson’s sister, who contended that Richardson owed her 2 pounds of pot, said Assistant Prosecutor David Calviello.
That prompted police to get a search warrant, and they found 8 pounds of marijuana and $8,000 in the home, Calviello said. At first, Richardson was charged only with several second- and third-degree drug charges, and a judge set his bail at $150,000.
Richardson, who spends much of his time in California, left New Jersey and missed his court dates despite knowing that police were searching his home, Calviello said.
“After that little back and forth, we had zero confidence” that Richardson would return, Calviello said.
During that time, authorities also were investigating the source of the money found in Richardson’s home and an additional $15,000 seized from his car in a motor vehicle stop in November, the assistant prosecutor said.
Eventually, Richardson turned himself in several weeks later. That was when he was also charged with money laundering for the seized funds, which caused a judge to double his bail, Calviello said. Richardson has been in Bergen County Jail since and faces 10 to 20 years in prison if convicted.
Neary argued that his client’s bail should have remained at its original amount.
“I would simply suggest that $300,000 bail is excessive,” the attorney said.
Neary also represents Richardson on first-degree marijuana trafficking charges in Passaic County. Neary said that case has been pending for two years, and Richardson has never missed a court date.
Calviello said Richardson faced life imprisonment if he is found guilty on those charges.
“What more do you need that Mr. Richardson has every reason to flee the jurisdiction?” Calviello asked the judge.
Jerejian said the charges against Richardson were “serious” and that his record was long, as the attorneys said he has seven felony convictions.
Given the uncertainty of the charges pending in Passaic County, Jerejian said he did not think it was appropriate to reduce Richardson’s bail.
“The purpose of the statute is to ensure that he does appear in court,” Jerejian said.
Neary declined to comment on the judge’s ruling.
Jara Soldevila, a friend of Richardson’s who also is his co-defendant on the drug charges in Passaic, said she was disappointed in the decision.
“He’s not running,” Soldevila said.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Judge refuses to lower Oakland man's $300K bail in marijuana, money-laundering case - News - NorthJersey.com
Author: Mary Diduch
Contact: diduch@northjersey.com
Photo Credit: Kevin Wexler
Website: NorthJersey.com: Local News, Breaking News, Sports, Bergen, Passaic, Morris, Essex, Hudson, Sussex, Classifieds, Real Estate, Traffic & Weather
