MAN MAY FACE LIFE IN PRISON FOR PROVIDING MARIJUANA TO SON

SAN DIEGO (AP) A man accused of helping his son make marijuana-laced
brownies may spend the rest of his life in prison because of the state's
three-strikes law.

Steven Wells, 48, of Mira Mesa faces felony charges of furnishing marijuana
to a minor, adulterating food and failing to register as a sex offender.

Wells was convicted in 1992 on two felony child molestation charges, which
means he faces 25 years to life if he is found guilty of the recent
allegations, prosecutors said.

Defense attorney Bill Nimmo conceded in court Thursday that his client gave
the boy the drug, but said he wants that charge reduced to a misdemeanor.

"He likes his marijuana,'' Nimmo said.

Prosecutors also charged Wells with child abuse, saying he hurt his son when
he gave him the marijuana, but Superior Court Judge Marguerite Wissed that
charge.

"I'm not convinced it causes great bodily injury for a 15-year-old to have a
(laced) brownie,'' she said.

Wells was arrested in January after his ex-wife noticed that the brownies
her son brought home had a strange smell. Authorities said the boy asked his
father for some marijuana, which he used as a secret ingredient for the
baked goods.

It's unclear whether the boy ate any of the brownies, but his 5-year-old
sister did. The girl was not harmed by what she ate.

Nimmo doesn't believe that Wells should be given a life sentence for
providing marijuana to his son.

"It's a sign of government out of control,'' he said.

Wells remains free on $50,000 bail. His next court hearing is scheduled for
Aug. 28.