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Torkel
Cannabis Sacrament Minister
Joined: 23 Nov 2004
Posts: 1396
Location: West Virginia, USA
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 Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2005 5:59 pm Post subject: US GA: Deputy Faces On Drug, Gun Charges |
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US GA: Deputy Faces On Drug, Gun Charges
URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n912/a03.html
Newshawk: chip
Rate this article Votes: 0
Pubdate: Wed, 08 Jun 2005
Source: Savannah Morning News (GA)
Copyright: 2005 Savannah Morning News
Contact: letted@savannahnow.com
Website: http://www.savannahnow.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/401
Author: Don Lowery
DEPUTY FACES ON DRUG, GUN CHARGES
Melinda Stewart Johnson allegedly bought marijuana in a sting operation.
SPRINGFIELD - An Effingham County Sheriff's deputy was indicted Monday on felony drug and gun charges for allegedly buying marijuana while on patrol in Guyton in March.
Melinda Stewart Johnson of Statesboro was indicted for possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, both felonies, and a misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana.
The indictments were handed down by the Effingham Grand Jury late Monday and made public Tuesday morning, Superior Court deputy clerk Leigh Hale said.
Johnson was fired after her March 8 arrest and later was released from Effingham Jail on $10,000 bond. She is scheduled for an arraignment hearing on July 5 before Superior Court Judge William Woodrum.
"We will police our own,'' said Chief Deputy Richard Bush on Tuesday. "We are not above the law. We cannot and will not let anyone get away with breaking the law.''
Johnson joined the sheriff's department about seven months before her arrest and remained on probationary status in early March. Days before her arrest, drug agents at the sheriff's office received information that she was involved in purchasing marijuana.
Deputies responded by setting up a sting operation in which Johnson was to buy an undisclosed amount of the drug. A meeting for the deal was arranged in the parking lot at the IGA supermarket at the corner of Ga. 119 and Ga. 17 in the small Guyton community.
Johnson was working her patrol duties - wearing a uniform and packing her service revolver - when she drove into parking lot in a marked deputy's car on March 8. Deputies watched the marijuana buy from hidden locations, then converged on the deputy's car and arrested Johnson.
The deputy had stayed on probationary status longer than the usual six-months because her work performance as a court bailiff and patrol officer was marginal, officials said.
Johnson was treated the same as civilians during the booking process and a news release about her arrest was promptly issued to local media.
Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie said he was disappointed in the conduct that led to her arrest.
McDuffie said his deputies acted quickly and professionally in their investigation in hopes of preventing the incident to besmirch the image of the sheriff's office
"We will not tolerate police corruption,'' McDuffie said after the arrest. |
Peace,
Torkel
_________________
Miller vs U.S. (230 F 2nd 486,489): "The claim and exercise of a Constitutional right cannot be converted into a crime."
Miranda vs Arizona (384 U.S. 436, 125): "Where rights secured by the Constitution are involved, there can be no rule-making or legislation which would abrogate them."
HAGANS vs LAVINE (415 US 533 N-3,note 5): "Once JURISDICTION is challenged it must be proven by the Plaintiff." |
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