ANACONDA MARIJUANA CAREGIVER MAKES INITIAL COURT APPEARANCE

ANACONDA - A medical marijuana caregiver accused of growing more
plants than legally allowed made his initial appearance Wednesday in
Anaconda district court.

Branden Hagerman, 27, is charged with felony criminal production of
dangerous drugs after police allege he grew twice the marijuana plants
permitted for his number of patients.

Hagerman did not enter a plea in the absence of his attorney, Carl
DeBelly, of Billings. Judge Ray Dayton set an arraignment for 10 a.m.
June 16.

Hagerman remains free on recognizance.

On May 14, officers provided a civil stand-by for Hagerman's partner
to remove her belongings from 417 E. Front St., according to court
documents.

The woman told detective Steve Barclay that Hagerman had marijuana
plants inside the home, and she allowed officers to view the "grow,"
being listed on the lease and signing a permission to search, records
say.

Officers allegedly counted 50 plants. When Hagerman returned to the
home, he told officers he is the caregiver for 8 to10 people,
according to court documents.

The property owner has since evicted Hagerman from the home for what
he claims are violations of the rental contract.

Detective Barclay called the state Medical Marijuana Program, which
confirmed Hagerman is the caregiver for himself and three other
individuals, according to court documents. This would entitle him to
24 plants.

Hagerman told The Montana Standard following Wednesday's hearing that
he has since received two more medical marijuana cards for patients
from the state, and anticipates the final three will come soon. It has
taken longer than expected, he said, because the program is backed up
with applications. "If I did something wrong, I wouldn't be standing
here fighting for my rights," Hagerman said.

Hagerman was not arrested, and was ordered to make his initial
appearance in district court.

Hagerman is one-half of the proposed Pintler Medical Marijuana Co-op,
along with 39-year-old caregiver Mike Rosenleaf.

The shop's business license was not immediately approved, and the
county passed urgency Ordinance No. 13 on May 18 to ban all medical
marijuana establishments and caregiving for six months.