MARIJUANA RETURNED TO MANTECA GROWER

Manteca police gave David Willson's pot plants back Thursday, about
18 months after officers raided his home, seizing marijuana and other
property.

Law enforcement officials in the south San Joaquin County city
expressed disappointment and vowed to continue to bust residents
possessing drugs deemed illegal.

Police officials released growing equipment and several guns Aug. 3,
after San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge K. Peter Saiers ordered
the return of all the property taken from Willson's rural Manteca
home. But officials held onto the marijuana while considering an
appeal.

Thursday, Willson picked up 5 pounds of marijuana, including dried
buds and 174 plants, at the police station after his lawyer
threatened to press contempt-of-court charges.

In a written statement, Police Chief Charles Halford said he was not happy.

Police called it one of the biggest cultivation cases in the city's history.

In June, a jury acquitted Willson and his wife, Lisa Marie Willson,
of cultivation and possession of marijuana for sale. David Willson, a
building contractor, said he grew the pot to treat severe headaches
and anxiety.

"It's been the law since November 1996 that medical marijuana is not
contraband," said William Logan, Willson's lawyer.

Manteca narcotics detective Steve Harris said the decision was a hard
pill to swallow, but it doesn't change the department's
responsibility to uphold the law.

"We are still going to do our job arresting bad guys and throwing
them in jail," Harris said.

On Friday, officers made three drug arrests, he said.

Police arrested 30-year-old Jason Sewell in the 100 block of Sycamore
Avenue after they reportedly found nearly $10,000 worth of
methamphetamine in his possession.

Officers also arrested Baltazar Hernandez, 24, and Rodrigo Niteo, 23,
at an apartment complex in the 700 block of Stewart Street on charges
of possession of cocaine and possession of marijuana for sale.