News (Media Awareness Project) - US CA: Marijuana Distributor Gets 27 Years |
Title: | US CA: Marijuana Distributor Gets 27 Years |
Published On: | 2000-12-02 |
Source: | Press Democrat, The (CA) |
Fetched On: | 2008-09-03 00:32:29 |
MARIJUANA DISTRIBUTOR GETS 27 YEARS
A federal judge Friday imposed a 27-year prison term on a Mendocino County
man who was earlier convicted of heading up a marijuana cultivation ring.
Judge Susan Illston also fined John Dalton, 45, of Redwood Valley $165,000.
Dalton's sentencing capped a controversial 1996 case that involved one of
the largest marijuana distribution operations in North Coast history,
alleged witness tampering, and a judge's finding that a federal drug agent
had acted improperly by engaging in a relationship with Dalton's wife.
During pretrial hearings in 1999 involving Dalton's case, Illston found
that drug agent Mark Nelson had gone too far in persuading the defendant's
wife to install a tape recorder in their bed as part of a three-year
federal investigation of the marijuana cultivation ring. During the
hearings, Nelson admitted drinking beer and kissing Virginia Horstman,
Dalton's wife, during an encounter at a DEA safe house in Ukiah.
Illston refused to allow government prosecutors to use the tapes against
Dalton during his subsequent trial.
Despite the setback to the government's case, a federal jury convicted
Dalton of six marijuana-growing related charges and for obstructing justice.
On Friday, Illston sentenced Dalton to the 27-year prison term and ordered
a five-year period of supervised release when he is paroled.
A federal judge Friday imposed a 27-year prison term on a Mendocino County
man who was earlier convicted of heading up a marijuana cultivation ring.
Judge Susan Illston also fined John Dalton, 45, of Redwood Valley $165,000.
Dalton's sentencing capped a controversial 1996 case that involved one of
the largest marijuana distribution operations in North Coast history,
alleged witness tampering, and a judge's finding that a federal drug agent
had acted improperly by engaging in a relationship with Dalton's wife.
During pretrial hearings in 1999 involving Dalton's case, Illston found
that drug agent Mark Nelson had gone too far in persuading the defendant's
wife to install a tape recorder in their bed as part of a three-year
federal investigation of the marijuana cultivation ring. During the
hearings, Nelson admitted drinking beer and kissing Virginia Horstman,
Dalton's wife, during an encounter at a DEA safe house in Ukiah.
Illston refused to allow government prosecutors to use the tapes against
Dalton during his subsequent trial.
Despite the setback to the government's case, a federal jury convicted
Dalton of six marijuana-growing related charges and for obstructing justice.
On Friday, Illston sentenced Dalton to the 27-year prison term and ordered
a five-year period of supervised release when he is paroled.
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