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Tuesday, March 19, 2024
March 19, 2024

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3 found guilty of growing pot in federal marijuana trial

But they're exonerated of more-serious charges

The Columbian
Published:

SPOKANE — Three people were found guilty Tuesday of growing marijuana, but they also were exonerated of more serious charges in a widely watched federal drug case in a state where medical and recreational marijuana are legal.

The three remaining defendants of the so-called Kettle Falls Five were all found guilty of growing marijuana. But a jury found them not guilty of distributing marijuana, conspiracy to distribute and firearms charges that carried long prison sentences.

U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Rice set sentencing for June 10.

The defendants were Rhonda Firestack-Harvey, her son Rolland Gregg and his wife, Michelle Gregg.

Firestack-Harvey wiped away tears as she declared victory.

“The truth comes out,” she said, noting that the defendants were growing marijuana for medical purposes and had cards permitting that use. “We would have loved to be exonerated of all charges.”

However, there was no doubt that federal drug agents found marijuana plants growing on their property near Kettle Falls, she said.

Federal prosecutors did not speak with reporters after the verdict, which followed a full day of deliberations by the jury.

Prosecutors asked that the three be taken into custody until sentencing, but Rice declined.

“It’s a victory, but it’s bittersweet,” said Jeff Niesen, an attorney for Firestack-Harvey. “They’ve been convicted of a federal crime.”

But while the tougher charges carried sentences of a decade in prison, growing marijuana should bring a much lower sentence, Niesen said.

On Monday, attorneys for the defendants asked jurors to throw out what they described as an overzealous and overreaching case.

Larry Harvey, 71, was recently dismissed from the case after being diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer in December.

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