ISLETON OFFICIALS MUST TALK POT BEFORE GRAND JURY, JUDGE SAYS

A judge Monday rejected an effort by attorneys for the city of
Isleton to stop prosecutors from questioning officials in the tiny
Delta town about their arrangement with a private pot-cultivation outfit.

The District Attorney's Office this month subpoenaed current and
former Isleton City Council members and other officials to answer
questions in front of the Sacramento County grand jury about the
city's medicinal marijuana deal with Delta Allied Growers.

Isleton officials have said the agreement could mean hundreds of
thousands of dollars in new revenue for the cash-strapped city.

Attorney Clyde Blackmon filed a motion Friday to quash the subpoenas,
saying they violated provisions in the Constitution on separation of
powers. He said that the investigation would have a "chilling effect"
on the ability of the city to conduct its legislative business.

Sacramento Superior Court Judge Raymond M. Cadei denied the motion
after a brief hearing.

"It's not unique in this country to compel elected officials to
appear in front of a grand jury," Cadei said.

Assistant District Attorney Albert Locher argued against the motion.
He said the DA's office is still acting only as an adviser to the grand jury.

"If at some point in the future we're back here with an indictment,"
Locher said, the issue of prosecuting city officials would then be
the topic of "an interesting discussion."

The grand jury's Isleton session is scheduled to begin Wednesday.