Marijuana Activist Acquitted In Battery Trial

[Jim Finnel]

RANCHO CUCAMONGA A medical-marijuana activist accused of shoving an anti-drug activist at a meeting last year was found not guilty of battery Wednesday by a jury in West Valley Superior Court.

Paul Chabot, co-founder of the Inland Valley Drug Free Community Coalition, accused Palm Springs resident Lanny Swerdlow, 62, of shoving him after Chabot denied Swerdlow entry to an October coalition meeting.

Swerdlow has maintained that he did not shove Chabot. Swerdlow testified during his trial this week that he side-stepped Chabot before entering the meeting at the James L. Brulte Senior Center in Rancho Cucamonga, which was billed as a public event.

Swerdlow said he received an e-mail invitation to the event from Chabot's organization.

The jury deliberated for about three hours Wednesday morning.

"Justice was not served today,'' Chabot said Wednesday afternoon.

Swerdlow called the verdict "just.''

"It's what didn't happen. I didn't push Paul Chabot,'' Swerdlow said. ``I never touched him. He made that up.''

Swerdlow said Wednesday he intends to file a civil lawsuit in connection with the battery allegation against Chabot, the Inland Valley Drug Free Community Coalition, San Bernardino County and the city of Rancho Cucamonga.

Swerdlow is a registered nurse who works at a doctor's office in Riverside that writes recommendations for medical marijuana. He also hosts a TV show and a radio show on the subject, and is president of the Inland Empire chapter of the Marijuana Anti-Prohibition Project.


News Hawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: DailyBulletin.com
Author: Will Bigham
Copyright: 2008 Los Angeles Newspaper group
Contact: Home - DailyBulletin.com
Website: Marijuana activist acquitted in battery trial - DailyBulletin.com

 

[Justonevoice]

Congrats Lanny,Now go sue the rat faced liar.

 

[felix the cat]

It's the only possible verdict. Two sheriff's deputies were standing there when it happened. Paul Chabot tried to prevent Lanny's entry, but the deputies agreed that the invitation that Paul had sent Lanny gave him the right to attend a public meeting. Paul tried to block his entry but Lanny slid past him without raising his arms.

Lanny was quiet during the meeting. A few members of his group offered medical marijuana literature to others but they got the cold shoulder. Paul Chabot talked about hard drugs with no mention of MJ.

Paul Chabot has worked for the DEA and other anti-drug organizations. The Inland Valley Drug Free Community Coalition that he co-founded with his wife, is funded with federal funds channeled through anti-drug legislation. They routinely go to schools and tell all of the government lies about marijuana.