Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
Willie Nelson, who was arrested last week in Texas for having pot on his bus, has been charged with misdemeanor possession. Nelson was originally charged with carrying six ounces, a felony with a maximum sentence of two years in prison plus a $10,000 fine, but the amount was knocked down to four ounces, which carries a maximum penalty of one year and $4,000. (This is according to NORML'S website; TMZ claims that Nelson cannot be jailed on the misdemeanor charge.)
Mickey Raphael, Nelson's longtime harmonica player, told Rolling Stone on Saturday that the singer, who was released after posting a $2,500 bond, was doing fine after the bust: "He said he feels great — he lost six ounces." (Now we assume Nelson would say four.)
Texas attorney Dick DeGuerin, a criminal defense lawyer who recently represented Tom Delay and country singer Billy Joe Shaver, questioned the lawfulness of the search, which as he pointed out, occurred 100 miles from the Mexican border. "It's supposed to be a checkpoint only for aliens, and [agents] overstep their authority all the time," he told Rolling Stone. "I've had several cases from that checkpoint and they just use the opportunity to check out anybody they want to. If you have long hair, if you're driving a van or it looks like you're from California or you look like a hippie, they do profiling."
NewsHawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Rolling Stone
Author: Jem Aswad
Copyright: 2010 Rolling Stone
Contact: Rolling Stone
Website: Willie Nelson Dodges Felony Charge - RollingStone.com
Mickey Raphael, Nelson's longtime harmonica player, told Rolling Stone on Saturday that the singer, who was released after posting a $2,500 bond, was doing fine after the bust: "He said he feels great — he lost six ounces." (Now we assume Nelson would say four.)
Texas attorney Dick DeGuerin, a criminal defense lawyer who recently represented Tom Delay and country singer Billy Joe Shaver, questioned the lawfulness of the search, which as he pointed out, occurred 100 miles from the Mexican border. "It's supposed to be a checkpoint only for aliens, and [agents] overstep their authority all the time," he told Rolling Stone. "I've had several cases from that checkpoint and they just use the opportunity to check out anybody they want to. If you have long hair, if you're driving a van or it looks like you're from California or you look like a hippie, they do profiling."
NewsHawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Rolling Stone
Author: Jem Aswad
Copyright: 2010 Rolling Stone
Contact: Rolling Stone
Website: Willie Nelson Dodges Felony Charge - RollingStone.com
