ELDERLY COUPLE PLEADS GUILTY TO MARIJUANA POSSESSION FOR SALE

CRESCENT CITY -- Maxine Y. McCovey, 65, and her husband Donald
McCovey, 69, pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana for sale in Del
Norte County Superior Court on Tuesday.

The couple was arrested in a Sheriff's Office Drug Task Force raid on
Oct. 30 after a 19-year-old undercover agent purchased marijuana from
the pair.

Sheriff Dean Wilson, District Attorney Mike Riese and Task Force
agents seized 26 pounds of high-grade processed marijuana, more than
$12,000 in cash, firearms, and a travel trailer that was filled with
drying marijuana plants.

"The evidence was overwhelming," Riese said. "Phone calls came in
while the operative was there. Marijuana was found in the bedroom,
kitchen and grandchildren's room. There were two dressers in the
grandchildren's room full of one ounce baggies."

In addition, scales and receipts were found.

The couple had a medical marijuana card that permitted the possession
of marijuana for personal medical purposes, but that didn't allow
selling it, Riese said.

In exchange for their guilty plea, the couple received a suspension of
the three-year maximum sentence, but will be sentenced to up to one
year in county jail.

Two charges of the sale of marijuana and one of maintaining a place
for distribution and sale of marijuana were dropped.

"The charges were duplicative," Riese said. "It's the same sentence
they would have received if convicted by a jury, given they had no
priors."

The street value of the seized marijuana was $130,000 if it was sold
in bulk, said Det. Sgt. Bill Steven, head of the Drug Task Force. If
sold in one-ounce baggies, it would have been worth much more, he said.

The plea bargain includes the forfeiture of $12,196 in cash and the
firearms seized in the raid.

Judge William Follett warned the couple that under the Harvey Waiver,
he will be allowed to consider the dismissed charges when deciding
their sentence.

The McCoveys remain free on $10,000 bail each until sentencing on Feb.
26.