Hawaii Growers

lehua96734

Well-Known Member
ok
Posted on: Monday, August 3, 2009



HILO, Hawai'i — An 81-year-old Ka'u man was sentenced last week to
30 days in jail for growing marijuana.

Under terms of a plea agreement, Hilo Circuit Judge Greg Nakamura also
sentenced Leovegildo Mercado of Pahala, to 60 days of home electronic
monitoring and five years' probation.

Mercado pleaded no contest June 5 to second-degree commercial promotion
of marijuana. Prosecutors reduced a first-degree commercial promotion
charge, and dropped two other commercial promotion charges, one count of
promoting a detrimental drug and six firearms offenses in exchange for
Mercado's plea.

Mercado was arrested Sept. 11 after police searched his Pakalana Street
home. A search warrant was issued following aerial surveillance of the
area. Officers found 506 marijuana plants, 4.9 pounds of dried
marijuana, two rifles, a handgun and ammunition.

Deputy Prosecutor Jefferson Malate argued for the jail term.

"The significant amount of marijuana found indicates that the defendant
was engaged not only in the use, but in the distribution of it," Malate
said. "He has injected marijuana into the community."

Mercado's attorney, Deputy Public Defender Michael Ebesugawa, argued
that Mercado "indicated he was using marijuana for medicinal purposes."
He said that the lack of packaging materials found in Mercado's home,
such as zipper-lock plastic bags and vacuum sealers, is evidence that
Mercado was not selling the drug.

In asking for probation without jail time, or that any jail term be
suspended or stayed, Ebesugawa cited Mercado's age and limited criminal
record. He said that Mercado forfeited bail on a cruelty to animals
charge in 1959, was convicted of cruelty to animals in 1975, and was
allowed a deferred plea acceptance on a marijuana charge in 1982, which
means it is not a part of his permanent criminal record.

"Mr. Mercado is a valued member of the community," Ebesugawa said. "He
is not someone you would consider a danger to the community, but is a
constant in the Pahala community."

Police also seized almost $44,000 in cash for forfeiture in Mercado's
residence. Ebesugawa said he has advised Mercado not to talk about it,
since he is contesting the state's effort to confiscate the money. He
said that the money, plus a scale found in Mercado's home, were there
because Mercado was selling homemade smoked meat and Portuguese sausage.

Mercado, who was born in the Philippines, appeared in court with Ilocano
interpreter Antonia Lambayan, and requested a hearing-impaired headset.

"If possible, I would like no jail," he told the judge. "I will follow
the rules. I will obey the law. This will never happen again."

When Ebesugawa told Mercado that he had received a 30-day jail sentence,
Mercado dropped his headset on the defense table and his knees visibly
buckled.

Mercado, who was described by Ebesugawa as a "lifelong pig hunter,"
won't be allowed to own, possess or use firearms or ammunition, a
standard condition of probation.

Nakamura allowed Mercado to remain free until this morning, so he can
make arrangements for care of his animals.

After sentencing, Mercado laughed and bantered with family members and
Lambayan outside the courtroom.

"Only 30 days," he said, flashing a grin.
ay, this is just not right. from todays paper.
 

Dr. Greenhorn

Well-Known Member
........ You can pop oxycontin which is basically heroin in a pill and it's all good, but take a hit of the reefer and you're a fucking criminal!! Sorry gang, shit like this pisses me off. They willing to prescribe synthetic thc and it's all good but take a puff of the real stuff and your a menace to society.... I need a fucking  or  now,,,, I'm livid!!
 

smokn

Member
what's really going on Hawaii County? I thought we the people had passed a new initiative. Why are these anal retentive jerk offs still flying? Plus, to say they still have the $$$ for one more secret raid is a slap in the face of the residents who voted for the new initiative.

http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/articles/2009/08/02/local_news/local02.txt
This arrest was last year. In the 2 flys this year there were no arrests.http://www.westhawaiitoday.com/articles/2009/08/02/local/local01.txt
 

Puna Bud

Well-Known Member
This arrest was last year. In the 2 flys this year there were no arrests.http://www.westhawaiitoday.com/articles/2009/08/02/local/local01.txt
Yo smoken. first off you posted the same article, how come? Secondly, you miss the point. There isn't suppose to be any fly overs....period!!!! These guys are suppose to enforce the will of the people. I promise you this, had the vote gone the othe way. The cops would have been saying the same thing I'm saying had the vote gone the other way. But they lost and now they must try to understand their NEW role as a peacekeepers within Hawaii County.
 

smokn

Member
Yo smoken. first off you posted the same article, how come? Secondly, you miss the point. There isn't suppose to be any fly overs....period!!!! These guys are suppose to enforce the will of the people. I promise you this, had the vote gone the othe way. The cops would have been saying the same thing I'm saying had the vote gone the other way. But they lost and now they must try to understand their NEW role as a peacekeepers within Hawaii County.
Apologies, I didn't follow the link and read the whole article, just what was quoted previously about the trial of an 81 yr old. I agree that the peacekeepers need to learn new behaviors. They are not following the will of the people very well, but hopefully will run out of money. Remember what the Chief of Police said right after the vote? That attitude is the problem. Me, I would have either given the money back or diverted it to ice programs, which is what the people would have wanted, but nobody asked me, as usual. BTW, these were the two flys this year that I mentioned somewhere before.
 

Dr. Greenhorn

Well-Known Member
When are this guys gonna run outta funds??? 2090???
My eyes tell me otherwise..... They still fly on a daily basis...
I'm confused???
 

smokn

Member
According to the paper they have money for 2 more on Hawaii. I have no info on the other islands, just what the Dr. B told me and what's in the paper about Hawaii. I'm with puna here. We told them to quit last Nov. Not when they ran out of money. Either give it back, or spend it on something useful, for Budda's sake.
 

Sheckster

Well-Known Member
Federal funding ended on July 1st... So you shouldn't see any military or coast guard equipment being used in current flyovers..


The current flyovers are state funded and are being pushed heavily by Lingle... especially after the senate vetoed her decision on the task force for Medical Mari...


Linda Lingle doesn't care about the people of Hawaii, she cares about her political future as a Republican.... Did you know that she spent more time campaigning for John McCain for president than any other governor (she was promised a position in McCain's cabinet... A lot of our problems economically may have started going bad when she was out running around on the campaign trail for him....)

Her biggest crime is providing funding to these "fly-overs" while teachers and other state workers are being forced to take furlough days and losing a few days of salary a month?? Hawaiians are losing jobs and suffering while our governor throws money at these flights....

Understand that while the Big Island passed the law, it ultimately has to follow what the state says... And the state (Lingle) is not on the side of the people.... Hopefully our wonderful state doesn't get fooled again like we did with Lingle...
 

Sheckster

Well-Known Member
Wow 500 plants and 40k in cash + guns...
and only 30 days......

None of us would be so lucky!!!
No wonder he was laughing outside the courtroom :)
 

Dr. Greenhorn

Well-Known Member
It's all about being mobile and on the go bro!!! Haha

bring your best indica now,,, I got a Secret Weapon of a Sativa waiting just for you;)

take care my friend, and you better bring your a+ stuff now:lol: hahha aloha
 

lehua96734

Well-Known Member
what is amazing is that the County goverment's are not as bad off as the State. Maui Mayor and the other outer island mayors are all saying that their budgets are okay. but whats up with Lingle? she was too busy campaing for ,ugh, forgot his name, anyway, she was off island doing other business while the state was slipping down. now she is acting like a spoiled brat, if she can't get her way, nobody will be happy. didn't vote for her before, won't vote for her at all!!!
 
Top