Marijuana Cultivation/Distribution Conviction And Sentencing

Marijuana Cultivation/Distribution Conviction And Sentencing

On July 9, 2005, Tuolumne subdistrict rangers stopped a car travelling east on Highway 120 for speeding. A passenger in the vehicle, Roland Arsons, a resident of Fair Oaks, California, was a long-time suspect in multiple marijuana cultivation cases in the Yosemite area. A consent search led to the discovery of a marijuana pipe in the center console of the car. A subsequent search of the car led to the discovery of 226 marijuana starter plants in Arsons’ backpack. During an interview, Arsons admitted that his intent was to grow the marijuana in an isolated location on Forest Service lands to the east of Mammoth Lakes. He further stated that selling marijuana was his means of making a living. After a prolonged series of court proceedings, Arsons pled guilty on August 11th to one count of 21 USC 841(a)(1), possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute. He was sentenced to 48 months custody and 12 months supervised probation.