Note: The following story, which also appeared in the San Francisco
newspapers, has caused us concern. It is Richard Evans, not Robert. We have
been advised that the allegations of child pornography are baseless. The
police found a book that Rich bought at the Ansel Adams gallery which
included nudity of children (and others). The book is surely artwork -- even
under Cincinnati standards. When Rich was being booked the officer said that
with this child pornography charge included Rich's supporters would run from
him and his support would evaporate. BUT before we could post the article
below, we also received word that all charges have been dropped. Will the
newspapers that carried this story bring us the rest of the story? We will
be watching. - The editors @ MAP

DRUGS: A SILENT ALARM PROMPTS THE SEARCH OF ROBERT EVANS' SAN FRANCISCO
APARTMENT.

San Francisco-A nationally known advocate of medical marijuana was arrested
this weekend when police searched his apartment and found more than $60,000
worth of packaged pot and child pornography, authorities said.

A silent emergency alarm alerted officers early Saturday to Robert Evans'
apartment, where they also discovered an elaborate marijuana-growing
operation.

Evans, who has described himself as director of Americans for Compassionate
Use, was jailed on charges of cultivation and possession for sale of
marijuana, and possession of child pornography.

Officers forced their way into the apartment believing the alarm might have
been triggered by someone with a medical emergency, Lt. Kitt Crenshaw said.

Inside, they smelled burning marijuana and saw an incoherent man moving
toward the front of the residence. As officers followed him, they discovered
an elaborate hydroponics system for growing marijuana and called the
narcotics unit.

Narcotics officers obtained a search warrant and found 17 pounds of packaged
marijuana and three bedrooms containing a total of 40 plants up to 6 feet
tall, along with irrigation, lighting and temperature-control systems, the
police spokesman said. They also found child pornography, he said.

Evans is a longtime advocate of legalizing marijuana for medicinal use, and
police said he recently had applied for a city permit to operate a medical
marijuana club.

In 1996, police in Covington, Ky., raided an apartment where Evans allegedly
operated a medical marijuana buying club across from the county courthouse.

Checked-by: Rolf Ernst