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Herb Ninja

Gold Hill judge says he was set up

Marijuana supplier says police pressured her into ‘sting’ role

4-26-2005 | SANNE SPECHT | Mail Tribune

Wearing a wire for law enforcement, a Gold Hill librarian sold the marijuana to Justice of the Peace Robert King that ultimately led to last week’s demands for his resignation by county officials, the Mail Tribune has learned.

Both Anne Boydston and King, one of her regular customers, claim the sting was part of a plan to discredit him.

King refuses to resign, saying the June citation for marijuana possession was motivated by political payback for attempting to block the removal of Jackson County’s Justice Court from his Gold Hill courtroom to Central Point.

"It was a setup. I was set up. That’s a fact," King said.

Sheriff Mike Winters flatly denied any correlation between King’s marijuana citation and political maneuvering at the Justice Court.

"That’s absolutely untrue," said Winters.

He said King’s June 11 citation for possession of one-eighth of an ounce of marijuana was the reason he pulled his department’s cases from King’s court.

"I don’t think the guy in the black robe should be doing dope," said Winters.

Boydston, 47, who was convicted on felony counts of manufacture, delivery and possession of a controlled substance, said officers "set me up to set up Bob."

"They wanted to get Judge King," said Boydston, who was fired from her position as Gold Hill branch supervisor. "I’m so embarrassed about the whole thing."

Boydston said once King refused to move the court, "they were out to get him." And she was the bait, she said.

Boydston said Jackson County Narcotics Enforcement Team officers, operating on a tip from another marijuana customer, came to her home on May 13. They discovered a stash of 10.5 pounds of marijuana and immediately began asking about King, she said.

Boydston regularly sold a small amount of marijuana to King and others for the past two years from her home, she said. At first, she denied to JACNET that King was a customer. But when King drove in the driveway while her home was being searched, Boydston said she was unable to protect her friend any longer.

"The cops told me to tell him I was out (of marijuana)," said Boydston.

Winters said he’d heard rumors of King’s marijuana use prior to Boydston’s arrest. But he said they were only rumors until JACNET officers informed him of King’s involvement. At that point, he told them to do their job, Winters said.

"We’re not going to shy away from doing a criminal case just because it’s a judge," said Winters.

One month later, wearing a wire, Boydston called King.

"(JACNET officers) told me to call the judge. I had to tell him I had some and if he wanted, to come and pick it up," said Boydston.

King purchased the marijuana for $50 but was stopped by police as he drove off and cited just a few doors down from her driveway, said Boydston.

King pleaded not guilty and was given a one-year diversion program.

Boydston was convicted on felony counts of manufacturing, delivery and possession of a controlled substance in Jackson County Circuit Court on Feb. 24. She is serving 12 months of home detention, after which she will start a three-year probation period.

Jackson County Director of Fiscal Planning Harvey Bragg said prior to King’s citation, he and others urged King to cooperate with a proposal by the sheriff’s department to move the court from its 125-year location in Gold Hill to Central Point, where he would preside over an anticipated increased caseload. Bragg said King was initially willing, but later declined.

"He never really gave a reason," said Bragg.

King is currently under investigation by the state Commission of Judicial Fitness and Disability, which reviews complaints about judges and justices of the peace. King refused to comment on his reasons for refusing to move. But he said he is not currently presiding over cases because his courtroom and caseload were taken from him.

Most recently elected in 2002, King’s term expires in 2009. He has held his office for the past 25 years. His salary has risen from $5,000 to $36,000.

Jackson County commissioners on Thursday called for King’s resignation or recall, saying he has failed to collect $200,000 in fines over the past two years and stands to receive $245,000 in wages and benefits if he remains in office.

"They say I’m not doing my work," said King. "But they took my cases and my clerks. I don’t have any work to do."

Bragg said King’s Gold Hill court is gone. But another awaits, if he wants it.

"Basically we shut it down. We closed his office and moved everything out of Gold Hill," said Bragg. "We were intending to move him to White City but he said he didn’t need a spot there."

Bragg said King’s refusal forced the county to find another justice. Joe Charter was elected and now the county is "paying around $65,000 (in salaries) for two judges," Bragg said.

Winters said until there’s proof that King no longer smokes marijuana, he would not send his department’s citations to King — even if he agrees to preside in a different venue.

King, who said he smoked marijuana to relieve anxiety, said he regrets not going to a doctor instead and forgives Boydston for betraying him.

"I’ve forgiven her for the setup," said King. "I know what she was up against."

Boydston said she was advised to cooperate with law enforcement by Medford Attorney Michael Kellington, who later represented King.

Kellington, now a witness in the judiciary hearings, is trying to find King new counsel. But at a budget hearing on Thursday, Kellington told county commissioners his client will be vindicated once all the evidence is on the table.

Boydston said she hopes so.

"This whole thing was political and we were collateral damage," she said.

__________________
"Truth is treason in an empire of lies." -Ron Paul

 

reggie_the_dog

AN 1/8 of an ounce in Oregon

Less than 1 oz* misdemeanor none(jail time) $500 - $1,000

The Oregon Legislature determines the fine amounts for traffic citations. Currently they are as follows:

Class A - $421.00

Class B - $237.00

Class C - $141.00

Class D - $94.00

There are also increases in these fines occasionally depending on the circumstances surrounding a citation. For example, traffic fines in school zones and highway work zones may be more expensive.

so he does something as bad as a traffic violation and they say he should no longer be a judge....

PotShot

Hopefully, when its legal, all the justices and other high-paying, high profile people will come out. Then we can look back and all agree what a crock of B.S. we all went through.

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Carl Sagan Goodness Richard Dawkins Goodness