« "Ohio considers using Twitter to announce executions" | Main | Anyone want to discuss the Ben Roethsliberger "sentencing"? »
April 23, 2010
Go West, Young Pot Dealer!
This local sentencing story out of Buffalo, which is headlined "Pot dealer banished from state by judge," prompted the green-leaf twist on the famous Hoarce Greeley saying in the title of this post. Here are the details:
Brian M. Renaud, who pleaded guilty Wednesday to his second marijuana felony in six years, is being kicked out of New York State as part of a plea bargain approved by Niagara County Judge Sara Sheldon Sperrazza.
Renaud, 31, of Old Ransomville Road, Lewiston, admitted to a reduced charge of attempted second-degree criminal possession of marijuana. Sperrazza agreed to place him on probation as long as he leaves the state forever.
“Banishment is not something I do lightly or often,” the judge said. “His family has relocated, and he wants to move to California.”
She ordered Renaud to list his house for sale by June 30, the formal sentencing date.
Assistant District Attorney Susan B. Bjornholm said Renaud was arrested Dec. 15, 2008, after police raided his home and found him growing marijuana. They seized 3.84 pounds of it.
Renaud served three years in prison, starting in 2004, after police found 31 pounds of pot, packaged for sale, in another raid.
April 23, 2010 at 04:55 PM | Permalink
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
https://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83451574769e20133ece6e7e3970b
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Go West, Young Pot Dealer!:
Comments
How does interstate probation work anyway? I am somewhat surprised such a practice would pass constitutional muster although I can also see that there would be standing problems for third parties (most likely other states?) who wished to challenge such a condition (since the offender isn't likely to bring the challenge).
Somehow I doubt this guy is going to clean up his act wherever he lands. Someone tell the NY cops not to stop him on his way out of the state or they might wind up stuck with him yet.
Posted by: Soronel Haetir | Apr 23, 2010 11:50:30 PM
"Somehow I doubt this guy is going to clean up his act wherever he lands. Someone tell the NY cops not to stop him on his way out of the state or they might wind up stuck with him yet."
I envy you (and Judge Sara Sheldon Sperrazza) your ability to take this stuff so seriously, Soronel.
Attempted second-degree criminal possession of marijuana? Whoa! Sounds like he really stepped in it this time. No wonder they're banishing him.
Posted by: John K | Apr 24, 2010 9:31:43 AM
John K,
I find bargaining clear possession down to attempts to be more than a mite silly but it appears to be fairly common in NY and perhaps elsewhere.
Somehow at almost 4lb found in the guy's house there should either be possession or it is someone else's' pot.
Posted by: Soronel Haetir | Apr 24, 2010 10:34:40 AM
Oh, dear God, the horror! "attempted second-degree criminal possession of marijuana"!!!
The judge was right to banish him. After all, the very foundation of what passes for civilization in New York is threatened by this heinous crime. Send him to some other jurisdiction.
Too bad the idiots still keep this on the book as a crime.
Posted by: Roy B. Scherer | Apr 24, 2010 10:40:35 AM
not sure but i think the u.s supreme court has already spoken on the ideial of banishment and it was NO
Posted by: rodsmith | Apr 24, 2010 1:42:54 PM
