South Dakota jury finds consultant not guilty in pot case
Source: Associated Press
James Nord, Associated Press
Updated 4:15 pm, Wednesday, May 24, 2017
FLANDREAU, S.D. (AP) — A South Dakota jury on Wednesday cleared a consultant of drug charges after he helped an American Indian tribe grow marijuana for a pot resort that the tribe once hoped would include a nightclub, an outdoor music venue and bring in millions of dollars.
Eric Hagen, a 34-year-old consultant who worked with the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe, had faced charges of conspiracy to possess, possession by aiding and abetting and attempted possession of more than 10 pounds of marijuana. The plan for a resort north of Sioux Falls was ultimately abandoned.
The jury took only a couple of hours to find Hagen, of Sioux Falls, not guilty in state court. He had faced a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on both the conspiracy and possession counts and 7 1/2 years on the attempted possession count.
The verdict was a setback for state Attorney General Marty Jackley, who opposed the tribe's project from the start. Jackley, a Republican running for governor next year, said in a statement that he respected the jury's decision on Hagen's role.
Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/South-Dakota-jury-to-get-case-of-man-charged-in-11169766.php
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