SHERIFF WON'T GIVE POT BACK

MARYSVILLE -- Yuba County Sheriff Virginia Black has refused to obey a
court order directing her to return marijuana confiscated last year from a
couple medically authorized to smoke pot to relieve pain from their illnesses.

Black said returning "contraband" would be a violation of law, a contention
disputed Wednesday by lawyers for Doyle and Belinda Satterfield.

If Black continues to resist, the Satterfields will petition a Yuba
Superior Court judge as early as today to find her in contempt of court,
said attorney Jud Waggoman, who represents Belinda Satterfield.

The Satterfields were arrested Aug. 17 in their Linda home by county and
state law enforcement agents who uprooted 37 marijuana plants and seized
about 4.5 pounds of marijuana.

The couple explained at the time that they held valid prescriptions for
growing and using medicinal marijuana under the state's Compassionate Use
Act created when voters passed Proposition 215 in 1996.

Doyle Satterfield reportedly suffers from arthritis and Belinda Satterfield
from breast cancer.

The couple initially were charged with illegal cultivation and possession
of marijuana, but the charges were dropped when it was determined they met
medical marijuana requirements, District Attorney Patrick McGrath said.

The Satterfields tried to reclaim the confiscated marijuana from the
Sheriff's Department, but their request was rejected.

The couple then asked Superior Court Judge James Curry to order Black to
hand over the pot.

Curry granted the order Monday, but Black continued to resist, saying that
returning the marijuana would place her department in violation of a
conflicting federal law, Waggoman said.

"The sheriff is incorrect about the law. I'm sure she'll do the right thing
once she understands it," Waggoman said.

Waggoman said he expected to meet with the county counsel early today.
County counsel did not return calls seeking comment.