FOUR PLEAD INNOCENT TO METH LAW VIOLATION

LANCASTER - Three grandmothers and a grandfather accused of selling large
amounts of a substance used in the manufacture of methamphetamine pleaded
innocent Friday to charges that they violated a new anti-meth law.

Robert Granicy, 63; Armitta Granicy, 59; Romona Ann Beek, 61; and Dorothy
Manning, 67; operate Granicy's Valley Wide Feed Store at 43040 20th St.
East. The four were cited March 8 for allegedly selling more than eight
ounces of crystalized iodine in 30 days to the same person.

Iodine can be used both legally (to treat hoof disease in animals) and
illegally (to manufacture meth). The law, which came into effect this year,
requires that retailers monitor the sale of iodine, guarding against those
who might buy it in high quantities and make meth.

The law also stipulates that the vendors see the buyer's California
identification and record the information on the sales slip.

None of the four charged have a criminal history, and the attorney for the
Granicys says that their citation is merely proof that the law's rules are
unrealistic.

"They didn't do it," said Alison Bloom, the senior couple's attorney. "They
did comply with the regulations.

"But if the regulation requires them to perform the whole gamut of policing,
then we would argue that it isn't an owner's job to police the customers,
and if it is, then that's unconstitutional."

The citation of the feed store operators was the first application of the
state law, so it hasn't been tested in court yet.

"The police are asking these grandmothers to do their work for them, to
literally stalk their customers," Bloom said. "That's not a shop owner's
duty, and it puts these grandmothers in danger if, in fact, users of meth
find out that they were ratted on."

The four operators deferred all questions to their attorneys.

Sgt. Tony Hollins of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's clandestine drug lab
task force busted the feed store after undercover deputies bought iodine at
the feed store on five occasions.

Hollins said the owners were notified of the new law by certified mail and
that he personally admonished them against selling large quantities of the
chemical.

Bloom said that, if convicted, the foursome faces a maximum penalty of a
year in county jail.