Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
In a case that garnered the attention of marijuana legalization activists, an Ocean County jury on Thursday found a Mays Landing man guilty of operating a marijuana production facility in Little Egg Harbor.
The jury also convicted Jon Peditto, 54, of marijuana possession but acquitted him of possessing marijuana with the intent to distribute it.
Michael Abatemarco, a senior assistant Ocean County prosecutor, told the jury that Peditto was growing at least 17 marijuana plants in a wooded area of the Pinelands in Little Egg Harbor.
Authorities confiscated the plants and seized more than 3 pounds of marijuana from Peditto’s home on Aug. 7, 2012.
Peditto represented himself at the trial and did not deny that the marijuana was his. He was pursuing a jury nullification defense which in essence seeks to have a jury acquit him, not because there was no proof against him, but because the jurors believe the law itself is wrong.
Members of the Fully Informed Jury Association, which supports jury nullification as a defense, and marijuana legalization activist Edward Forchion, also known as NJ Weedman, attended the trial at times.
The trial started last week in front of Superior Court Judge James M. Blaney.
On Monday, Forchion was joined by medical marijuana patients who lit up in front of the courthouse but were not arrested because they displayed their medical marijuana cards and were in a designated smoking area.
Peditto faces 10 to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced for operating the marijuana production facility. He could face another 18 months in prison for possessing marijuana.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Man Guilty In City Marijuana Farm Case
Author: Kathleen Hopkins
Contact: Email Author
Photo Credit: Atroszko
Website: APP News
The jury also convicted Jon Peditto, 54, of marijuana possession but acquitted him of possessing marijuana with the intent to distribute it.
Michael Abatemarco, a senior assistant Ocean County prosecutor, told the jury that Peditto was growing at least 17 marijuana plants in a wooded area of the Pinelands in Little Egg Harbor.
Authorities confiscated the plants and seized more than 3 pounds of marijuana from Peditto’s home on Aug. 7, 2012.
Peditto represented himself at the trial and did not deny that the marijuana was his. He was pursuing a jury nullification defense which in essence seeks to have a jury acquit him, not because there was no proof against him, but because the jurors believe the law itself is wrong.
Members of the Fully Informed Jury Association, which supports jury nullification as a defense, and marijuana legalization activist Edward Forchion, also known as NJ Weedman, attended the trial at times.
The trial started last week in front of Superior Court Judge James M. Blaney.
On Monday, Forchion was joined by medical marijuana patients who lit up in front of the courthouse but were not arrested because they displayed their medical marijuana cards and were in a designated smoking area.
Peditto faces 10 to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced for operating the marijuana production facility. He could face another 18 months in prison for possessing marijuana.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Man Guilty In City Marijuana Farm Case
Author: Kathleen Hopkins
Contact: Email Author
Photo Credit: Atroszko
Website: APP News
