Apr 24, 2009
After a lengthy hearing, Judge George Wu once again deferred his sentencing decision in the case of the federally prosecuted California medical marijuana provider, Charles C. Lynch.
Judge Wu indicated that he's leaning toward a more lenient sentence than the five-year mandatory minimum sought by the federal prosecutor and said he needs a way around the mandatory minimum and alternatives to prison for Lynch, who operated his medical marijuana collective in compliance with state and local law.
The mayor and city attorney of Morro Bay also called for leniency as they described Lynch's commitment to following state and local medical marijuana laws.
The federal prosecutor, despite fighting to keep state law from being discussed during the trial, now claims that Lynch should be sent up the river for violating a technical aspect of California law involving his status as a primary caregiver.
The new sentencing date is set for June 11 at the Los Angeles federal district courthouse.