COUNTY SEEKS TO SHUT DOWN "DRUG" FEST

Host Of Criminal Charges Threatened If Hoosier Harvest Fest Goes On As
Planned...

PENDLETON - In a letter, Indianapolis attorney Stephen Dillon calls
"absolute bull," the Madison County prosecutor's office has taken a
decisive move to repress this year's Hoosier Harvest Fest.

The Hoosier Harvet Fest, to be held Sept. 25-27 at Pine Lakes Campground
here, is a rally dedicated to the decriminalization of marijuana.

In a letter dated Aug. 27 and sent to the event organizers and property
holders of the Pine Lakes Campground, Deputy Prosectuor David Puckett
called the festival a "location for the unrestricted sale of illegal
narcotics" based on police reports and accounts from
undercover police officers.

"That's bull," said Dillon, a recipient of the letter who spoke at last
year's event. "It's a music and arts festival where the First Amendment is
exercised. People gain knowledge through rallies like this. It's a shame
to have law enforcement in there with a prohibitionist attitude trying to
stop the free exchange of ideas."

The letter closed by outlining possible legal action that could be taken
against the organizers and property owners --- asset forfeiture and
prosecution for accessory liability for the sale of illegal narcotics and
maintaining a common nuisance.

If prosecutors decide to pursue forfeiture, the Winters family, which owns
Pine Lakes, could lose its campgrounds.

"We would have to look at the reasonability of executing forfeiture, but
yes, that certainly is an option," said Rodney Cummings, Madison County
prosecutor. "If we find (Harvet Fest) is a blatant opportunity to profit
off of illegal drugs, then we will seriously look into forgeiture."

The Wintereses were on vacation Tuesday night and could not be reached for
comment.

"They are just trying to scare Paul (Guthrie, event organizer) and the
Winterses (owners of Pine Lakes) into not having it," said Dillon.

Cummings said the purpose of the letter was not to threaten but to let
property owners and event organizers know that the Harvest Fest is a
concern of the law enforcement agencies in Madison County.

"We want to put them on notice, give them a fair opportunity," Cummings
said. "It's pretty hard for me to ignore it when they opnely advertise the
celebration of an illegal substance."

Paul Guthrie, organizer of the Hoosier Harvet Fest, refused to comment on
the letter Tuesday until further advised by his legal counsel.


Checked-by: Joel W. Johnson